Conceptual design is best described as:

Conceptual design is primarily focused on transforming gathered information, ideas, and requirements into a visual form that captures the essence of the project's objectives. This phase is critical in the architectural design process because it sets the groundwork for subsequent stages, guiding decisions about aesthetics, functionality, and overall project direction.

By interpreting the information visually, architects and designers can communicate their ideas more effectively to stakeholders, ensuring that everyone involved has a shared understanding of the vision for the project. This graphic representation may include sketches, diagrams, and other visual tools that illustrate concepts, spatial relationships, and design principles.

In contrast, other options refer to different aspects of the design and construction process. Finalizing construction plans pertains to more detailed documentation that occurs after conceptual design. The administrative phase of project management involves organizing and coordinating project resources, rather than focusing on the initial creative idea generation. Calculating budget estimates is a financial task that typically follows the conceptual design phase, relying on established designs to determine costs.