Hi, I’m Phil

In 2008 I took a leap of faith, leaving a teaching career to pursue my childhood dream of designing homes! I completed a Diploma of Architectural Technology which brought specialised knowledge to complement the professionalism, craftsmanship and people skills gained from 10 years teaching Design and Technology to high school students. This lead to a drafting position with a local architecture firm on the Coffs Coast where I honed my CAD skills and developed my understanding of design and construction under the mentorship of two highly regarded and experienced architects. Taking another leap of faith, in 2012 I went full time in our business, PCB Architectural Drafting.

Drawing near to a decade in our business, with my wife Sarah supporting and strengthening the core of our service, we felt it was time to review and renew! Arising from reflection, debate and more reflection (and more debate…), theDesign Difference was born!

Why theDESIGN DIFFERENCE?

DESIGN is core to our service.

DIFFERENCE makes reference to my great great great great grandfather, Charles Babbage who designed the Difference Engine, a forerunner to the modern computer. I have enjoyed reading about his work and particularly noted his innovation and commitment to excellence which is a legacy I strive to maintain.

Many clients have expressed that ‘our design has made a difference….’

The point of DIFFERENCE in our delivery of DESIGN is our focus on relating well with our clients, ensuring a safe environment for discussing ideas and promoting authentic collaboration, resulting in a constructive and enjoyable design process.

Why the logo?

The logo represents the honeycomb cells of a beehive and the bees that design and build them. Beehives are an example of a home in nature which reflects our respect and wonder of the natural environment. Bees are workers and builders, values that are central to our work ethic. Furthermore, the honeycomb image relates to my appreciation of projective geometry that illustrates structures of nature; a new interest that I am keen to explore!

Ready to start a project?

Let’s chat

Hello Coco Studio
Peter Gralton

Philip did an amazing job of designing our kitchen and living area, solving problems we couldn't see solutions to, embracing the original features of our 1930's home, making a beautiful and functional home for our growing family. He was thorough, listened to what we wanted and understood our needs and was professional throughout the entire process. We love it!
Sarah and Simon 2021
We would highly recommend theDesign Difference! Philip was so easy to work with. He was knowledgeable, thorough and had many great ideas. He made navigating the process of Development Application to Council and obtaining all the required certificates and reports easy. His great reputation in the community and among the Council made our renovation run smoothly and we are so happy with the results. Our addition fits seamlessly with our existing house and our property looks modern and complete. We get many compliments on our home and we have theDesign Difference to thank for them!
Scott and Mel 2021
We had the pleasure of working with Philip from theDesign Difference when we were building our new house. Philip brought our vision to life and designed a house we truly love and get compliments on. He was professional, easy to work with, and someone we would highly recommend to anyone looking to build.
Joel 2021
We are so pleased and thankful to Philip as our draftsman for our new home. We felt heard and appreciated that he truly understood our desired outcomes to create a home with maximum light and ventilation, offering a multifunctional living area space. Philip was patient, efficient and ensured we were completely happy with the design outcome. We would highly recommend theDesign Difference!
Tim and Michelle 2021
We are very happy with the attention to every detail and the handling of all applications necessary for the construction of our carport and slab.
Eric and Sheila 2021