1. THE BRIEF
The first step is to get in touch and share an idea of what you’d like to commission.
Get in touch
Telephone: +44 (0)7919 020 886
Email: hello@michaelcooper.studio
If you’d find it helpful, I’ve created a short commission template you can fill in. Or please just use it as a simple guide to help shape your thinking for when we speak.
Our initial conversation will help us create a simple written brief, outlining the vision for the piece and material options.
I’ll use this to tailor an estimate that details the scope of work and cost involved. If you’d like to go ahead, an initial deposit payment of 50% will be requested, and your project will be booked in the diary.
2. DESIGN
The design stage is made up of two elements.
Research
The written brief points me in a direction to focus my research, and serves as the foundation that’ll inform and inspire the design.
Hand drawings
At this point I develop a set of preliminary rough sketches for review. Once agreed on the final direction we want to take, I’ll then create scale drawings of the piece.
3. CRAFT
There are three core stages in the crafting process.
Gathering materials
The wood I use comes from sustainably managed sources – either timber I’ve coppiced or felled in the woodland that I manage surrounding my studio workshop, wood from local artisan foresters and arborists, or from specialist FSC and PEFC wood suppliers. Alongside timber, this is the time supporting materials, such as fabric, rope and hardware must also be sampled and gathered.
Setting out
Before a tool can touch timber I start by taking the design and transform it into a set of hand drawn 1:1 scale technical drawings. These detail the key joints and components, and are used as a master guide for referencing against throughout the making.
Making
Throughout the process I capture images at each stage of the making. These photos are uploaded to your project page to document the creation of your piece.
All wooden components are marked out, milled, and left to rest for a period of time. Once the timber has settled, the components are ready to be shaped by hand to their finished dimensions. Every joint is then meticulously cut, tested and fine-tuned with traditional hand tools. Once assembled, a finish is delicately applied, and the piece is ready for delivery.
With the project complete, a final payment will be requested (50% of project fee + delivery).
BOOKING DETAILS + LEAD TIMES: Projects are typically booked on a 12 week lead-time, depending on availability, and the scale and scope of the project. Once your commission is in the diary you’ll receive confirmation, and a password protected link to your project page with details of the agreed brief, budget and project dates. If another upcoming project ahead of yours is postponed or cancelled, I’ll endeavour to move your commission forward, or if you’d prefer, leave it where it is. Likewise, if there are unforeseen delays on a project for any reason, I’ll be sure to let you know as soon as possible.