As for all creative works, specifying veneer and veneered panel products for use, is a challenge. It requires the designer to become knowledgeable about species of wood veneers, their availability, and how to use those veneers correctly. The designer must be able to communicate their ideas correctly, so the ideas end up with the original intention.
Subjective issues such as colour grain character and scale are most important. Objective issues of cost, availability and durability can be judged quantitatively.
For instance, when permitted by the specifications, most small or medium sized architectural woodwork projects may be fabricated from stock panels and not custom manufactured panels, because of cost and scheduling factors. Stock panels use varied sequences of veneers, creating panels of varied leaf widths and match and are stocked by a panel layer or merchant.
On the other hand, when a designer requires that the veneer be selected specifically for a project, specifies and draws how those veneers are to be joined and where they are to be used, the cost and schedule will increase – but so will the control of the final product.