Design Element for Temporary Exhibition

The NAM wishes to appoint an exhibition designer or design company, to create the design for the exhibition from the concept stage to final dimensioned As Built drawings to construct from. The successful tenderer will be responsible for not only the look and feel of the exhibition, but also any 3D structural elements and exhibition furniture. The NAM has display cases which we would like to re-utilise to keep costs down. These can be painted or clad. All structural elements and exhibition furniture must be compliant with CDM regulations and H&S guidelines. Materials utilised need to have passed Oddy testing and be suitable for use with historic artefacts and agreed with NAM in advance. Design solutions for the display of objects must be approved by the Conservator and Exhibition Manager at the NAM. The look and feel of the exhibition must enhance the aims and themes of the exhibition narrative. Build elements should be achievable within a build budget of £8,000.

The successful tenderer is also responsible for the graphic elements of the exhibition, including title walls, object labels and large- scale imagery. The successful tenderer should account for the production of visuals for presentation to NAM board members and also artworking graphic files to print from. The successful designer will be required to liaise with graphic production companies to produce the graphics elements, including approval of proofs. This is a complete design turnkey operation. £5,000 is available for the production of exhibition graphics.

The designer will therefore be required to attend regular project meetings, some of which will be on site. It is crucial that site visits take place on a regular basis to ensure that structures fit the space and the layout utilises existing socket and data outlets, whilst accommodating other fire requirements and security cameras within the space.

Prior to submitting a tender response, a site visit is necessary. During the build phase, which will be tendered separately by the NAM and managed by the NAM, the designers will be required to attend site at various phases of the build.

The visual identity of the graphic elements of the exhibition, also provides the visual identity for our marketing and communications team to ensure that posters and supporting public programme material, has the same visual language as the exhibition itself. Therefore, the successful designer should be willing to make these elements available to other NAM departments.