Which of the following activities occurs during the preliminary phase of the design process?

The preliminary phase of the design process is primarily focused on generating ideas and establishing the foundational vision for a project. During this stage, rough sketches and brainstorming sessions are essential activities that allow designers to explore various concepts and possibilities. These efforts help in visualizing the initial ideas and determining which direction to take moving forward.

By engaging in brainstorming, designers can think creatively and collaboratively, leading to a diverse range of potential solutions. Rough sketches serve as a tangible representation of these ideas, providing a means to communicate thoughts internally among team members or externally with clients before committing to more detailed designs. This phase sets the stage for the subsequent steps in the design process, where more specific decisions, such as detailed material selection or presentations, will take place.