1. Context and aim intake
   You share your broad topic, Discovery and Topic Framing outputs (if available) , current aims, and any departmental or guide preferences about design.
2. Clarifying the core problem and comparison
   We identify the main decision or uncertainty you want to address and what a meaningful comparison looks like in your field.
3. PICO or PECO skeleton drafting
   A first pass PICO or PECO table is drafted, covering population, exposure or intervention, comparator, and primary outcome.
4. Checking feasibility and realism
   The draft PICO or PECO is cross checked against feasibility notes (access, time, sample availability, approvals) so that the question is ambitious but realistic.
5. Matching to design family
   We then map your context to the most defensible design family (randomised trial, quasi experimental, cohort, case control, cross sectional, lab or bench experiment, survey, etc.) .
6. Refining question wording
   Question wording is polished for reviewer friendliness, avoiding jargon where possible and aligning with common patterns in your domain.
7. Study flow diagram construction
   A high level flow is created, typically showing source population, screening, eligibility, inclusion, follow up, and analysis sets (where relevant) .
8. Linking aims, endpoints, and flow
   We ensure that each stated aim can be traced to parts of the flow diagram and that downstream endpoints and variables will make sense.
9. Protocol and ethics ready text assembly
   All of the above are condensed into short blocks that map to typical protocol headings such as Objectives, Research Question, and Overall Design.
10. Delivery and one refinement cycle
    You receive the PICO or PECO table, flow diagram, and text blocks. After guide or internal feedback, one refinement cycle is included to adjust wording or structure.

• PICO or PECO table summarising the population, exposure or intervention, comparator, and main outcomes in a single view.
• Primary question statement phrased in reviewer friendly language that can be reused across synopsis, protocol, and grant sections.
• Study design tag and short justification indicating whether the study is experimental or observational and why that choice is defensible.
• Study flow diagram as an image (PNG or similar) that fits comfortably into protocols or presentations.
• Synopsis style paragraphs that describe the problem, PICO or PECO question, and overall design in continuous text.
• Alignment notes explaining how the blueprint connects back to Discovery and Topic Framing, and how it will support later sections on variables and statistics.

The output is intended to be simple enough for busy guides and reviewers to scan quickly, but detailed enough to anchor the rest of your design and analysis sections.

Deliverables and formats

• One PICO or PECO table in DOCX or spreadsheet format that you can paste into different documents.
• One high level study flow diagram shared as PNG or similar image format, suitable for protocols and slides.
• Two to three paragraphs of protocol ready text summarising the question, design family, and overall flow.
• A short design justification note that you can adapt when reviewers ask why a certain design was chosen.

What is included

• Structuring of your ideas into a standard PICO or PECO framework where appropriate.
• Choice of a suitable design family and a short justification based on feasibility and bias considerations.
• Creation of a high level flow diagram from source population or sample to final analysis set.
• Text that aligns with common protocol and ethics formats used by universities and teaching hospitals.
• One round of refinement after you review the pack with your guide or internal team.

What is not included

• Detailed sample size calculation or full statistical analysis planning (covered under Statistical Links and related segments) .
• Variable level listing, measurement details, or CRF design (addressed in Variables, Endpoints & Case Definitions and CRF/EDC segments) .
• Complex multi centre or multi project portfolio architecture beyond a single PhD level project.
• Redrafting of entire thesis chapters; the focus is on protocols, ethics forms, and related foundational documents.

Best time to book

• After you have a reasonably stable topic and aims from the Discovery & Topic Framing section.
• When guides or ethics committees ask explicitly for PICO or PECO framing or a clear study flow diagram.
• When you are struggling to convert broad objectives into a crisp, testable research question.
• Before spending major effort on SOPs, CRF design, or sample size calculations, so that everything aligns with the core blueprint.

Helpful inputs from your side

• Your latest aims and hypotheses, even if they are in rough draft form.
• Any earlier notes on feasibility, resources, and constraints that may affect design choice.
• Examples of typical designs or PICO or PECO questions used in your department, if your guides prefer a specific style.
• Any template or structure your university or ethics committee uses for protocols or synopsis submissions.