A Charette is an intense effort to solve any architectural or design problem within a limited time. From a creative standpoint, a Charette can be divided into three portions:
1. Listen. Listen to what the financial backers, owners, and other stakeholders have to suggest. Work together with them to come to an understanding about the project, what their goals and limitations are, and how these might fit with your ideas.
2. Envision. Imagine together all of these various considerations to come up with a realistic and creative proposal which will be interesting while at the same time financially, responsibly, and otherwise feasible.
3. Draw fast! The ability to work with creative team who can bring ideas to a tangible design sketch quickly, allows for instant communication.
The term "Charette" (little cart) appeared in the late 1800's. Architecture students at the Ecole Des Beaux-Arts in Paris who needed to rush their designs to their instructors, placed their drawings on a cart which was called a charette. Later the word broadened in meaning and came to describe any intense, short-term design project. Today the word is used by the architectural and design community at large to describe any intense, on-the-spot design effort.
— From Masterplanning.com