The Radio Neutrino Observatory (RNO) is a proposed ultra-high energy neutrino detector that plans to instrument ~100 square kilometers of ice at the South Pole to study the high-energy end of the cosmic neutrino spectrum. An array of radio-frequency antennas are to be deployed that are sensitive to the Askaryan radio pulses emitted by energetic neutrino-induced cascades in the ice. During the conception of RNO a number of design studies were performed to guide decisions in the collaboration. Ultimately, the balancing of these studies with expected station costs and considerations of installation have determined the layout of the RNO stations. Included in the design studies were tests of effective volume per station, sky coverage, and several event reconstruction quality parameters. The results of these studies point to the current RNO station layout: a group of antennas at a depth of at least 60 meters colocated with a group of near-surface antennas. We will present the results of our design studies and how they justify the proposed station layout of RNO.