The Anatomy of a Project
This post is about the process of enlisting a specialist company like Wall Glamour to install wall graphics on an interior design project. As a commercial interior designer these are the type of issues you will come across, which I hope will also give you a better idea of how we work.
The first point of contact is often a phone call or email to discuss the upcoming project, which usually ends with a request to price the project. To be able to price a project we need a minimum of two things, we need a visual or layout of the design and we need a spec sheet detailing the sizes of the murals or stickers, if photos are available this is also useful information.
At this point there is often a discussion about the timeline of the project and how we might fit into a programme of works. We are normally one of several suppliers on a design scheme so the project manager needs to know when the best time is for us to install the artwork. As we are installing murals and stickers onto finished surfaces we are often the last people on a project, so we will often look at the completion date the client has, we will then set ourselves a completion dates prior to the end of the project, which allows time for snagging and to clean the site. From our the completion date we work back to determine when we need the artwork by and when we might do a site survey.
After we have submitted a price and it has been accepted we are asked to confirm details of the programme and we are asked for our RAMS or Risk Assessment and Method Statements for our work on the project. Then next process would be to do a site survey. A site survey cost will be included in the pricing schedule but it may not be required if the project is not very big. However a site survey does ensure that the project is correct first time, in our experience you cannot always go from the site-plan and drawings, so the site survey acts as an insurance scheme.
Once we have completed a site survey, we can feed back all the sizes to the design team to make any alterations required, or depending on our agreement we can make the amends to the artwork prior printing. Once the artwork final artwork arrives, via file transfer services like Dropbox or Wetransfer, we work on converting the artwork into something ready to print. Printing commences usually two weeks prior to the start of the installation, though if it is a small project it may only be one week prior. Once the murals start coming off our printer, we laminate them, then trim them by hand and pack them into boxes ready to take to the installation.
Once we are two weeks away from the installation date we usually ask for a jobsheet to be completed, our jobsheet covers things like the project address, site contact details, access hours, PPE and parking. One crucial element on the jobsheet is the question of the induction, nearly all major sites we visit require some sort of health and safety briefing or site induction and it is important that we know what is required when we first visit the site. So inductions are shorter than others so if they require a couple of hours we will need to factor this into our time on site.
At this point in our timeline we are a working day away from the installation, when working on larger projects we prefer to work Monday through to Wednesday as our main installation days, if it is a really big project we tend to add more manpower to the installation rather than work extra days. The Friday prior to the project installation we go through the visuals and spec sheet checking off everything as we pack the project into rolls and boxes, once we’re happy we pack the van and with the materials and equipment ready for an early start on the Monday.
When we arrive onsite we will normally make our way to the induction area or site office to sign in. Once all these duties have been fulfilled we head up to the area where we are working, ensuring it is accessible with trolleys. If working with multiple contacts on the site we will introduce ourselves and discuss our method of working, where they would like us to start and where we can base ourselves from. Then bring up all the materials onto the site and commence work. We try to work quickly and efficiently, working from room to room but if the project is larger and the site is site inhabited we will work around other trades or staff if the area is still live.
At the completion of the project we will tidy our work areas, remove any of our waste from site and then take photos for our client and for our promotional material. We then handover to the site contact and will walk the site with them as they check our work. When they are happy we leave site, and report to our design clients that the project is complete. At which point hopefully the designer will be getting calls from their clients expressing their gratitude for an amazing space, this does happen regularly which is why I include it.
We have tried to boil down all of the above into our five step product method which is;
- Consultation – Where we discuss the project needs and timeline.
- Programme and Costings – We propose our costs and programme.
- Site Survey – We complete a survey to ensure that installation goes smoothly.
- Production – Printing commences two weeks prior to installation.
- Installation – Our team starts transforming the space.
In our experience the method above ensures our clients are clear where they are in the process and it ensures we are able to deliver a project that will enhance their reputation. We have lots of experience we can input into a project, but ultimately we want to be facilitate in revealing the designer’s vision for the space.
Wall Glamour transform spaces using wall murals and graphics. We turn blank walls into visual treats which have a significant positive effect on the users of those spaces. Our products have featured on several TV shows, and we have installed bespoke projects throughout the UK. These include the BBC World Service lobby and Glasgow’s prestigious new £850m Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital. Wall Glamour wall art is used in businesses, start-ups, gyms, schools, cafés and healthcare environments.
www.wallglamour.co.uk