BEWARE OF YOUR RESOURCES

Welcome to the second part of my series on what is expected from designers during the store or window concept design processes. This time, I will focus on Resource Constraints or Requirements.

There are two main resources that designers need to consider when creating a concept design: Time and Money.

It's crucial to get clear information about your resource limitations from the brand you are working with and to maintain communication at every stage regarding the use of these resources. Brands might act like you have unlimited budget and time, saying, "Just design something, we'll see," but that's not how reality works. It's wise to be cautious.

When designing, you can come up with great ideas and drawings on the computer or on paper. With unlimited time and budget, you might create wonders, or you might create nothing at all. Therefore, it's essential to have limits and a framework to allocate your resources during the design process. Setting a limit on approximately how much budget and time each element in your design will require will make your work much easier in the later stages.

Let's go through a practical example...

Suppose, you have 3 months to complete the store, including the design, and have it ready for opening. That's only 90 days! Not much time at all. You are designing a unique, eye-catching wall display unit with an eclectic and challenging shape. However, while drawing the design, you didn't really think about what material it should be made of. Your client has seen and liked the design, saying, "We must make this immediately." They didn't question how it would be made because they assumed you had thought of that.

In reality, when you get into the details, the unit's profiles require a special mold-making technique and a different alloy metal.

Upon researching, you find that there is only one company in your country that can do this, and they need to import the raw material from abroad. Just the shipping by sea takes 3 months, which is the best-case scenario considering customs.

The store needs to be opened in 3 months. I won't even mention the cost of air transport, if that's even possible. And, this is a special material! It is likely more expensive than a standard mass-produced profile. Being dependent on a single company for the profiles means additional costs since there is no alternative. Since they are the only company, they probably have other customer orders and may not be able to work on your project immediately. All these factors will likely result in delays, postponements, or budgetary difficulties for you.

Let's assume everything goes as planned; how will the installation be? Does it require special craftsmanship? Can anyone do it? Is a special tool or equipment needed? How much time and budget will all these require?

AND, of course, other construction works continue in parallel. Do we need to wait for the unit's completion to start the installation or construction of other things? How much budget and time will this cost us? In short, while designing or planning a project, you need to research and consider, even roughly, the time and budget requirements of each element you add and how these will affect other tasks in the project. This way, your efforts will not be wasted. You won't experience unnecessary delays and tensions.

So, this is the end of the second part. See you next time.

Zeynep

STUDIO Zeynep Develi

ART - DESIGN - RETAIL

**No affiliation or partnership with any brand, company or person.

*****For Tips for Store Designers - PART 1 >> https://www.dhirubhai.net/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:7244328118734180352/