First impressions
At almost every location, the visitor’s first encounter is usually a sign. It is a crucial opportunity to make a good first impression. This is the very first intervention to deliver your brand, offer directional reassurance and generally set the tone for the quality of the rest of the visit. Further into the visit, signage plays many different and important roles in improving the visitor experience, maximising uptake of the different offers, and promoting confidence to explore everything the site has to offer.
Maltings Heritage do not manufacture signs…
How is this to your advantage?
It may seem an odd thing for interpretive designers to say, but we firmly believe that any view is rarely improved with a sign. We very much see our role as working to introduce the smallest possible number of signs to achieve an effective outcome. Our flexible approach also considers the possibility of re-purposing and refreshing existing on-site signage and structures, reducing environmental impact and often resulting in a considerable cost saving over starting from scratch.
Maltings have delivered numerous extensive signage schemes for many national organisations and landmark buildings over the years, all presenting different challenges and very specific requirements. Everything that we design and produce is absolutely unique to the site, fulfilling the specific requirements of the location and reflecting the ‘spirit of place’. Because we are not manufacturers, we are not constrained by ‘off the peg’ structural designs that conform to a limited range of sizes. Equally significantly, there is absolutely no motivation for us to sell our clients signs. Creating a well-designed, elegant scheme which meets visitor needs whilst retaining – even enhancing – the charm and beauty of a site is our ambition. The graphics are often a small fraction of the cost of any given sign, but the planning, design and implementation are key to delivering best value to our clients.
How does the process work?
We begin with a site visit and a meeting with the client team. You know your site best, so we greatly value your knowledge and insights of what currently works well, what are the identified challenges, and what visitor behaviours need to be addressed. Maltings conduct the surveying, planning, creative design and management side of the project and take personal ownership of the full process. We work closely with a wide range of specialist fabricators, joiners, craftspeople, and nationwide installers to offer the most appropriate manufacturing and fitting solutions to your signage and wayfinding requirements. We are equally happy for you to arrange any manufacture or installation yourselves using our designs and print-ready artworks.
Doesn’t this add to the cost?
No is the simple answer – clients always have sight of their cost estimates and quotations and are encouraged to place their order directly with the manufacturer best suited to their project. We NEVER apply mark-up to third party fees, instead charging a project management fee to cover our liaison time which we believe is the fairest approach. This ensures absolute cost transparency, removes any potential bias when selecting contractors and very importantly provides clear responsibility for after care.
Bringing everything together
Of course, having great looking, site appropriate and cost effective structures is only part of the solution. Everything has to work together, be beautifully designed and deliver clear and accurate information. The visual language, cartography, interpretation, illustration and imagery should all be considered and developed holistically. Maltings Heritage are exceptionally capable in this crucial area, and carry out all creative work in-house – the reverse of many manufacturers, who would typically outsource these skills. You will find many examples of this in the case studies on the home page.
Because the Maltings deliver every project in a unique way, this web page is deliberately not designed with multiple menus of options for lecterns, fingerposts, ladder signs and way markers etc. The examples of project experience shown are to offer reassurance of our capability. Your project is unique, and your solutions will be developed specifically for you, so please contact us to begin an informal discussion so you may decide for yourself if the Maltings Heritage approach is the right one for you.
