Guideline 6. Design development

Following selection of the artist’s initial proposal the client and selected artist may need to develop the design to a more detailed stage. This will ensure that engineering, cost and safety issues are fully resolved before a full commission contract is awarded or production begins.

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

• Engineering issues
• Technical specification
• Material specification
• Detailed costings
• Contingency
• Consultation with client-side partners
• Consultation with local authorities
• Full commission

Engineering issues

If the artist is proposing work that utilises materials outside their normal experience they should get independent engineering support to assess viability and offer solutions.

For information on specialist advisors contact the Institute for Structural Engineers or the Association of Consulting Engineers

Technical specification

Depending on the nature of the proposed artwork a technical specification may be required to enable assessment of weight, foundations, fixings, wind loadings and health and safety.

Further advice is available from the Health and Safety Executive.

Material specification

If materials, surface finishes or combinations of materials are unusual then a written specification may be required from the supplier.

Detailed costings

It is essential for the artist and the client that all costs are established at this stage to ensure the project can be delivered within budget.

The nature of one-off arts commissions does sometimes make the costing exercise challenging but by planning all stages from design to installation it should be possible to predict costs to a good level of detail.

Contingency

When costing the production of the artwork it is usual to build in a percentage contingency.

Contingencies can vary from 3% to 15% depending on the complexity of the project.

It is advisable to consider a large contingency when the project is experimental or involves a number of fabricators or sub contractors.

Consultation with client-side partners

Clients should ensure they provide contact details for any partners that they wish the artist to consult with.

Where an artwork is being commissioned within a new build there may be a requirement for the artist to consult with a large number of contractors and design professionals to ensure that the artwork is factored into the main building programme.

Consultation with local authorities

It is normally the client’s responsibility to consult with the relevant local authorities.

This may need to happen informally before the design process begins – to establish ‘in principal’ support or to investigate site ownership, underground utilities and any safety or legal issues.

Following selection of an artwork design it is also the client’s responsibility to establish if the artwork needs Planning Permission and to involve the artist in production of any required planning documents.

Full commission

The detailed design proposals will be subject to final review and selection by the client prior to agreeing the full commission, awarding contracts and beginning fabrication.

The aesthetics of the proposal are always important, however the following issues are often vital in terms of clients fully committing to the project:

• detailed budget breakdown
• timescale
• integration with main building contract
• method statement - compliance with Health and Safety and other legislation
• planning permission