About the Maltings Studio...
Enthusiasm is the mother of effort, and without it nothing great was ever achieved.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON
Heritage interpretation and museum design is our passion, not just our job. We immerse ourselves in projects, becoming fully invested in a successful outcome. We totally embrace a ‘hands on’ approach, liaising directly and transparently with all clients to ensure the smooth progress of their projects. We value clear communication, we advise, and just as importantly we listen, and then fulfil every commission with unmatched diligence, imagination and genuine enthusiasm.
Below are just a small number of the diverse range of clients and organisations we have had the pleasure of working with in recent years – helping to enhance their visitor experience.
Organisations
CADW
Canal & River Trust
English Heritage
Historic Environment Scotland
Liverpool City Council
National Geographic
National Trust
North Pennines National Landscape
North York Moors National Park
Peak District National Park
Severn Trent Water
Snowdonia National Park
Woodland Trust
Yorkshire Dales National Park
Visitor experience projects
Ampthill Great Park
Brightlingsea Museum
Calke Abbey
Cart & Wagon Shed
Danby Lodge National Park Centre
Earls Colne Heritage Museum
Grace Dieu Priory
Helmsley Walled Gardens
Kedleston Hall
Landguard Fort
Oliver Cromwell’s House
Rosedale Abbey
Sefton Park Palm House
St Peter-in-the-Forest Church
Interpretation projects
Avoncroft Museum
Beverley Beck
Breedon Priory
Grantham Canal
Harpenden Air Raid Shelters
Holy Trinity Church
Hopton Castle
Land of Iron
Land of Lead and Silver
Lye & Wollescote Cemetery
Pennine Bridleway
Snowdon Summit Building
St Mary Magdalene Church
The Roundhouse
How we deliver our projects
The difference between a good story, and a great story, is in the telling.
MIKE FOSTER, Partner, Maltings.
‘Spirit of Place’
A simple term to describe everything that defines a site – encompassing the invisible weave of culture, social history and interpersonal relationships, together with more tangible physical aspects from present and past. For Maltings, spirit of place is at the heart of all we do. It must be clearly understood, respected, and inform all aspects of the design development process alongside the views and ambitions of those who know it best – the client team.
For larger projects, establishing a simple, critical list of aspirations at the outset is essential in ensuring that focus is maintained throughout. We are very familiar with working alongside volunteer groups, and are highly skilled at getting to the root of what they truly want – even when they are not certain themselves. A site visit is usually necessary, particularly when they are required to develop an appropriate ‘Visual Language’ – meaning how brand, typography, imagery, materials and palette sit within, respect and reflect Spirit of Place. Meaningful dialogue from first meeting to journey’s end is also essential to the process. Listening on both sides, clear communication, mutual respect for the expertise of all involved and trust in Maltings capability to deliver, all contribute to forging a fruitful working relationship that will yield exceptional results.
A multi-disciplinary and flexible team
As interpretive designers, Maltings role is all things visual. We create and plan the overall design aspects of a given project – graphically, structurally, and in terms of how the whole may be presented.
We aim to engage visitors and encourage them to learn about a site, its heritage and its stories. All this is developed in-house through direct, ongoing liaison with the client team and effectively project managed.
By necessity, we have developed close working relationships with a number of associate professionals and organisations who together offer the skills necessary to allow Maltings to provide a FULL-SERVICE SOLUTION for just about any interpretive project. This extends to specialist research, writing, interpretive development, interactives, props, audio-visual, fabrication, installation, print and digital media.
The multi-disciplinary team approach affords many advantages to the client…
- A team is assembled according to the requirements of each project, meaning budget is directed only to the skills demanded by a particular scope.
- Members of a team work together because they choose to do so, out of mutual respect for the creativity, professionalism and particular expertise they each bring to a project.
- Individual roles and responsibilities within the team are shared with the client from the outset, as transparency encourages direct liaison and clear lines of communication.
- Tasks are not delegated via layers of management or salespeople, ensuring feedback and critical information is delivered directly to the appropriate professional.
Working hand-in-hand with your team
First and foremost, we recognise that the journey to the point where interpretation is commissioned is often long and arduous.
Organising the build and restoration for heritage projects takes time. Securing funding and liaising with local communities, stakeholders, architects and other professionals might require your teams learning new skills. Training can take hundreds of hours, and progress is often frustratingly slow and demanding.
Our role begins at a point when the project team’s energy can sometimes be a little depleted by the process, and so is as much about rekindling early enthusiasm as it is about delivering the brief. Passion, expertise and energy is always included in the price!
The team at Maltings is always on hand to offer guidance, information and advice as required, to provide structure and clarity to the development process, and to meet – and surpass – the expectations of the client team at every stage as the project progresses. Work never begins until budgets are agreed and set. Fees and costs are clearly itemised and typically work is invoiced only as it is completed, with regular budget updates submitted as appropriate.
You will find our team friendly and approachable, honest, reliable, and a genuinely enthusiastic addition to your project group. The ultimate aim is always the same: to surpass client expectations, to ensure all involved are delighted with the results, and to make the journey as enjoyable as possible.
For further information about Maltings, how the team works, what they can bring to your project, or specifics about the commissioning and design development process, please contact Mike or Steve here.
In our roles as specialist illustrators we also produce a huge range of highest quality illustration work for a wide range of clients. We have a dedicated website for this work which can be found here www.maltingspartnership.com
We also have a dedicated brochure ILLUSTRATION for INTERPRETATION
Chock full of samples and inspiration for your project – you can view the interactive brochure by clicking the cover above, or download the PDF HERE.
Maltings are members of the following professional organisations: Association for Heritage Interpretation, Group for Education in Museums, and Association of Illustrators.
