How to Use Design Options in Revit

ByMohamed Fakhry Updated

Are you wondering how to effectively use Revit design options? How do you create, manage, and apply them to your model?

Design options allow you to explore different design scenarios for your Revit project. You can create multiple versions of the same model and compare them side-by-side without affecting the main model.

This allows you to test different ideas, present them to your audience, and choose the one that best meets your design goals.

Here’s a 7-step guide.

1- Base Model Building

A well-structured base model is crucial for efficient design option management. By establishing a solid foundation first, you’ll save countless hours of work later in the project.

Focus on creating the elements that will remain consistent across all design variations, such as core structural components, basic building envelope elements, and unchanging MEP systems.

The key is to model elements that won’t change between options only once, rather than duplicating them across different options. This approach not only saves time but also ensures consistency and improves model performance.

2- Create Design Options

Design options in Revit need to be organized logically to maintain clarity throughout your project. Each set of options should address a specific design problem, such as different facade treatments or interior layouts.

Steps

  1. Go to the Manage tab > click Design Options.
  2. In the Design Options dialog box, click on New under Option Set.
  3. Enter a descriptive name for your option set > click OK.
  4. Click New under Options to create individual options.
  5. Name each option clearly and click OK.
create design options in Revit

A design problem is a specific aspect of your project that has more than one possible solution.

If you are designing a kitchen, some of the design problems may be cabinet layout, color and material of appliances, style and location of furniture, etc.

You can name the design option set according to the design problem it represents. For example, “Kitchen layout” or “Facade transparency”.

3- Add elements to the design option

To add elements from other sources to a design option:

  1. In the View Control bar, drop-down the Design Options selector.
  2. Insert or load the elements that you want to add to the option.
  3. Place or position them anywhere in your model.
add elements to design options

You can also add elements from the main model or from other sources, such as families or groups.

To add elements from the main model to a design option:

  1. Select the elements that you want to add to the design option.
  2. Go to the Manage bar > Design Options panel > click Add to Set.
  3. In the Add to Design Options set window, select sets.
  4. Click OK.
transfer elements to design option

4- Customize views for options

Effective view management is crucial. Each option needs dedicated views for clear visualization and documentation. This approach allows you to focus on specific options without confusion and creates clear presentation materials for clients.

Create dedicated views for your options using this process:

  1. Go to the View tab and select Duplicate View.
  2. Choose either Duplicate with Detailing or Duplicate as Dependent.
  3. Name your view to clearly indicate which option it shows.
  4. Open the Properties palette and access Visibility/Graphics Overrides.
  5. Select which design option to display in this particular view.
dedicated views for options

You can create multiple dedicated views for different option sets or options and arrange them on sheets or on your screen. This makes it easy to see and compare your different options and choose the best one for your project.

Learn more about duplicating views

5- Annotate options with dedicated views

To add option-specific annotations, you must use dedicated views.

  1. Assign a design option to each dedicated view.
  2. Add annotations and other view-specific elements to each view.

You can also use filters, visibility graphics, and view templates to control how your options are displayed in dedicated views.

Learn more about annotations

6- Dedicate a schedule to each option

As with views, duplicate your schedules and then assign a schedule to each option.

To dedicate a schedule to a design option:

  1. Duplicate the main model schedule.
  2. Rename the new schedule to “Schedule – Option 1” to distinguish it.
  3. Open the new schedule.
  4. Go to the Properties palette > Visibility/Graphics Overrides > click Edit.
  5. For each design option set, select the design option to display in this schedule.
schedules for design options

You can create multiple schedules for different option sets or options and arrange them on sheets or on your screen to view and compare data about your different options.

Learn more about schedules

7- Apply an option

Applying an option means making it the primary option and deleting all other options within the same option set.

This will update your main model with the selected option and remove any unnecessary elements.

To apply an option to the main model in Revit:

  1. In the Design Options dialog box, select your preferred option.
  2. Click Make Primary under Options.
  3. Select Accept Primary under Option Set.
  4. Confirm your choice.
apply option

Apply the option only after you have selected the best one for your project. Then review the model thoroughly to ensure all elements transferred correctly