Start with the location and the task
Define the message, the product and the shopper action you want to support. Then confirm where the material will appear. A shelf asset, a freestanding display and a temporary event structure have different requirements.
Gather the available dimensions, retailer specifications, intended life, quantities and dates. If an important requirement is unknown, record who will confirm it before the design is committed.
Develop the concept and visualise it
Use sketches or 3D visuals to explore the proposed execution. Review the message hierarchy, brand recognition, product visibility and how the design relates to its setting.
A visual helps people discuss the idea, but it does not prove that a structure is ready to manufacture. Where structural development is required, agree who will develop and verify it.
Resolve the physical requirements
Discuss materials, dimensions, product loading, finish, assembly and the expected conditions of use with the responsible production specialists. Identify whether a prototype or other approval sample is needed and what it must demonstrate.
If a material or environmental claim will appear in the campaign, ask for the evidence behind that wording. Keep decisions connected to the actual item being produced and how it will be used.
Prepare and approve the artwork
Work from the agreed specifications and the latest approved brand and product assets. Check dimensions, image quality, copy, product details, barcodes or promotional mechanics where relevant, and any retailer- specific content.
Name the people who approve design, product information and production files. Record which version is final so old artwork does not re-enter the process.
Plan production and packing
Confirm quantities, proofing, manufacturing dates and the agreed checks with the production team. Consider how the materials will be packed, labelled and identified when they arrive.
A campaign with several formats or store types needs a clear allocation list. An item that is easy to recognise and match to the right destination is easier for the receiving team to handle.
Agree delivery and installation responsibilities
Record the delivery addresses, booking requirements, access arrangements and people receiving the materials. If installation is part of the project, identify its provider, scope and schedule.
The plan should also explain what happens if a site cannot receive or install an item as expected. Decide who raises the issue, who can approve a change and how completion will be recorded.
Review the rollout and capture evidence
Check the delivered activity against the agreed brief. Useful records may include approved artwork, dispatch or receipt information, installation photographs and feedback from the project team. Agree at the outset which records the project team will provide and who is responsible for collecting them.
Separate delivery evidence from commercial performance. A confirmed installation shows that an item reached the store and was put in place; it does not by itself demonstrate a sales increase.
Questions to ask before you commission the work
- What exactly is being designed, made and delivered?
- Who owns graphic design, structural development and approvals?
- Which specifications and retailer requirements are confirmed?
- What needs a prototype, proof or other verification?
- Who produces, packs, transports and installs each item?
- What are the fixed dates and dependencies?
- What evidence will confirm delivery and completion?
- Who handles changes, damaged items or access problems?
A project example
For Enjoy Drinks, Juice developed a modular exhibition display around changing floor plans, storage and transport requirements. The project shows how practical needs can influence the design from the outset, from adaptable layouts to the way the finished display travels between events.
Discuss the whole requirement at the start
Juice can discuss the creative, artwork and production requirements for your POS project. Share the display brief and any rollout or installation needs so the work and responsibilities can be agreed clearly.
Send the intended format, quantity, destinations and dates, along with any retailer specifications.
Talk to Juice