Dare to be Different.
When it comes time to select a Wall of Fame vendor for your project, I strongly suggest that you dare to be different. You are about to embark on a journey that will take time as well as money to create a Wall of Fame that will catch the eye of anyone walking into your facility. Nothing does that more than a solution that is uniquely different.
Your committee has voted, they are willing to invest the space, the resources, and the money to honor very special people in your community. Why not do it differently? Why should you settle for a cookie cutter solution?
I guarantee those you are honoring did not settle for cookie cutter solutions throughout their lives. Take your time and do your homework. Look at companies that are creative and will work with you and understand your needs. When discussing your design needs with them, ask for examples of custom designs they have created for clients.
Choose Variety.
As I travel across this great nation my eyes are always drawn to Wall of Fame projects.
The ones that stand out to me use a variety of materials. Aluminum plaques with an acrylic header. Bronze plaques with an aluminum header. Acrylic plaques with an aluminum header.
Mixing up the material brings attention to your Wall of Fame. Also be sure to splash lots of color when appropriate. Find a vendor that knows color and knows print. Your project is only as good as the graphic designer creating it. You want a designer that is not afraid to step outside the box. One who understands that your project is one that needs to be talked about for years to come.
Your Wall of Fame is one that needs to bring so much attention that you receive phone calls and emails asking who produced that for you. If that happens, you have done your job. Your Wall of Fame honorees will be so proud to be honored in a manner like no other.
Don’t Be Frugal.
We have all heard the saying, “You get what you pay for”.
When it comes to a Wall of Fame or Hall of Fame, that is truly the case. Cutting corners by cutting costs may result in a final project that does not do your honorees justice. I have been involved in projects where the entire Wall of Fame had to be redone because one individual took it upon themselves to be the hero and save lots of money.
In the end, it cost more than double and created animosity within the Wall of Fame committee. Take your time. Raise enough money and allow yourself a buffer to elevate your project to the next level. Your Wall of Fame is something that can easily be around for decades. Pulling the trigger too soon and walking in with an extremely low budget will result in a cheap looking Wall of Fame.
Now that you are reading this blog post, I challenge you to “Google” Walls of Fame or Halls of Fame. Look at all the images. You will soon see those that put a significant investment in their project versus those who took the cheaper route.
Do Your Homework and Be Prepared.
The one thing I can promise you is that chaos will occur if your committee isn’t prepared after you have set an unveiling date for your Wall of Fame. This date will haunt you and your project will be a struggle the entire time. I suggest that you do your homework first. Do the following:
- Get good quality images of your honorees.
- Take the time to put together fantastic biographies on each honoree.
- Allow time for your committee members to proofread everything.
- Pick a prominent site to display your Wall of Fame.
- Elect the proper person to be the driving force behind your Wall of Fame.
Your vendor needs time to create your Wall of Fame. They need all the components for your project in plenty of time to ensure that your Wall of Fame experience is stress free.
I have been involved in so many projects where the person in charge cannot get the information together and everyone is stressed to the max. This is no way to go into a project. Your community, your committee, your honorees deserve better.
Taking your time to gather the information first will make it such a pain free experience and your vendor is going to go the extra mile for you because of it!
Listen and Be Open to Feedback.
Have you ever tried to talk to someone, and they keep cutting you off by saying, “No, we can’t do that”? Try not to be that person. We all understand that your school, organization, or business has a vision of what your Wall of Fame project should look like. I support you in that. But please be open minded to suggestions that may take you off your normal path.
Often a designer gets energized by your project and they get a creative burst that they want to place upon your Wall of Fame. I have seen this happen repeatedly throughout my career. If you are willing to listen and you are willing to let the professionals guide and direct you, your Wall of Fame will be one that sets the bar for your area.
One Final Thought.
Lastly, I would just like to say thank you. Thank you for doing your homework. You are reading this article. You must be personally invested. That means the world to me. I have taken the time to jot down thoughts and provide you with a roadmap for starting conversations with your committee when it comes to your Wall of Fame project.
I hope I have saved you a lot of time and a lot of trouble. I also hope you find a vendor that is willing to make your project the elite project in your region. Until next time.
