Our Process

1. Understanding, fact gathering… providing us with the following will enable us to help you better and faster.

• Your name, title and contact information
• Company & address
• What kind of project is it (hospital, residence hall, corporate office, etc)?
• What is the stage of the project (planning & design, construction, etc)?
• Have interior finishes been selected? If yes, describe (Class A, B, etc)
• Occupancy date
• What is the project size (signage budget, number of signs, overall project budget, square footage, etc)
• Have sign types, quantities and locations been determined? If no, will Takeform perform
  these programming functions?
• Will the signs be purchased on GSA, state or other contract?

We'll need your floor plan ASAP… preferably electronically in .dxf or .dwg format. Make sure it includes room numbers and/or room names. It should also indicate fire extinguisher stations and fire alarm pull-downs. Provide graphics files in vector format. Exterior renderings or photos and finish information is always helpful.

2. Design… Fusion is not just beautiful signage, but signage that belongs. That mirrors the lines of your architecture, the interior finishes and supports the image of the space. Fusion makes it easy:

• Select a Fusion series
• Select laminates*
• Select copy color and font
• Select pictogram (where required)
• Select metal accent
• Select decorative backer* (not required for Fusion 1, 2, 3, 4 and 43)

*Some materials are subject to upcharges. Signs utilizing Tier 2 materials… metallic laminates and decorative backers receive a 15% upcharge. Signs incorporating Tier 3 materials, Lumicor receive a 25% upcharge.

Note: non-standard materials may result in extended lead times.

Shortly after receiving your Fusion selection and finish choices, we send via email a color rendering of your sign system. At Takeform, design takes a systems approach. Because there may have been signs that you didn't think about. And others that may be needed in the future.

3. Wayfinding & Programming… By this time, we understand your environment and the programming requirements of the project. We understand the level of wayfinding required. We are able to identify every location with a role in the signage network. We consider position and viewing distance. We designate sign types, message copy and content. And we address all ADA and life/safety compliance issues.

At the completion of the programming phase, you'll receive a location plan and message schedule. The location plan is simply your floor plan with sign location "bubbles." The bubble indicates the floor, sign number and sign type. The message schedule is a sign list in spreadsheet form. The message or copy for every sign is indicated starting with the raised copy and Braille as well as the printed insert copy. If the sign contains a pictogram, that is indicated as well.

From the location plan, we're able to determine the quantity of each sign type. Now, we can prepare the quotation.

4. The Quotation… The itemized quote includes quantity and price of every sign type plus programming fees (if applicable), installation and shipping costs.

5. Purchase Order… We need a purchase order or contract with "bill to" and "ship to" information. A 30% deposit is required as well.

6. Approvals… We need your sign-offs indicating approval and release to production of the

1. rendering
2. location plan
3. message schedule

Note: material purchases and manufacturing cannot begin until written approvals are received. Timely approval then, is vital for adherence to the project timeline.

7. Manufacturing… We manufacture to exacting standards utilizing materials that ensure aesthetic quality and long term performance. Allot 4 weeks for manufacturing.

8. Pre-Install Survey… prior to actual installation, we perform a "pre-install" utilizing vinyl stickers and full scale plots placed at the exact ADA designated sign location. This identifies install problems in advance and allows final confirmation that every sign achieves its purpose, both aesthetically and functionally. The pre-install occurs two weeks prior to the actual installation.

9. Installation… Takeform's certified installation crews are trained in the "Takeform method." They accomplish the job quickly, neatly and with negligible disruption to others.

10. Documentation… We provide a comprehensive Standards Manual – a paper and electronic summary of your project including renderings, location plan, message schedule, install detail, cleaning and maintenance instructions, printed insert templates, and re-order information.