Guideline 5. Initial design proposal

Funding artists’ initial designs is often the most effective way for clients to make an informed decision on selection of an artist and proposal.

Click on a heading below for more information or scroll down the page to read the whole guideline.

• Initial design fee
• Timescale
• Site visits
• Briefings
• Drawings and models
• Site visualization
• Artist's statement
• Technical sheet
• Production schedule
• Artist's presentation

Initial design fee

It is important that artists are funded to work on early research and ideas and to produce initial design proposals.

Fees are generally calculated on a £150 daily rate. Initial design fees may range from £750 for a modest project to £3,000 for a detailed or large-scale proposal.

Timescale

Initial designs can take up to three months to produce depending on the research and development needed.

Due to other work commitments artists may not be able to respond immediately to an invitation to make a proposal.

Site visits

Ideally a site visit should take place early in the design process. This is often an excellent opportunity for artist and client to meet and discuss the project informally whilst reviewing the location.

Briefings

Briefings for the artist with other design professionals working on the project – eg architects and landscape architects – or user groups, are desirable and contacts should be included within the brief.

Drawings and models

The brief should be clear as to how the client would like the artist to present their ideas and whether the proposals will be used in any form of exhibition – clear labelling of all material is essential.

Site visualization

Proposals should indicate the location of the work on a larger site plan or offer a photomontage visualization of the work in-situ which clearly communicates the artist’s ideas.

Artist's statement

It is usual for artists to accompany their proposals with a short statement and some visual references to previous projects – it is important that the client can see the proposal in the context of the artist’s previous work.

Do not assume that the people who make final decisions on the design submissions are also those who originally selected or short-listed the artist.

Technical sheet

Technical information may need to include details of all materials and fixings, professional background information on any suppliers or fabricators, details of site work, foundations or fixings needed to install the artwork, and directions on cleaning and maintenance.

Production schedule

It is advisable for artists to produce a timetable for full design and fabrication for their own project planning and to enable the client to assess feasibility and programming issues.

It is essential that the client provides the artist with clear information on the schedule of any other construction or site works that relate to the artwork.

Artist's presentation

The artist’s presentation to the client/selection panel can happen in a variety of ways. Ideally the artist will have reasonable time to fully explain their work in general and their specific proposal to a representative selection panel.

The artist normally chooses to communicate their ideas verbally with the support of drawings, CAD, photomontage, samples or models. It is advisable for the artist to produce a concise written and illustrated summary of the presentation and to produce enough copies for the entire selection panel.

It is essential for the client to indicate in advance if they require proposals to be made in any standard way – for instance the production of display boards.