BlogProcess
How does a graffiti commission work, from design to sign-off?
- Reading time
- 7 min
- Published
- Founder and graffiti artist
- Marcus Dörr
In short
You send photos, measurements, budget and preferred date. We get back to you within 24 hours and put together a preliminary quote. Then you first approve the design and after that the final quote. Only then do we schedule artists, lift and date. Once the work is done, we sign off on the wall together with you on site.
Every commission follows set steps. You approve twice. First the design, then the final quote. That way the motif and price are fixed before anyone stands at the wall.
What do you need from me for the inquiry?
Four things are enough to get started: photos of the surface, the measurements, your budget and your preferred date. An idea for the motif or the occasion helps too.
Photograph the surface from the front and at an angle. Give the width and height in meters. If you have a budget in mind, tell us. That saves both sides two rounds. Photos and videos are usually enough. An on-site visit is possible but not required. Most inquiries come in through our contact form.
How quickly will I get a reply?
We reply within 24 hours, usually the same day. In the first conversation we clarify what you have in mind.
Then we write a preliminary quote. It shows you the range your project falls into. You can find the guide values in the post How much does a graffiti commission cost?.
How is the design created?
The design takes shape in conversation with you, and then we create it. You commission it first, and it starts at €500 net.
We talk about your idea by phone or video call. Then we show you matching references from our projects. You pick a direction, we design. You see the finished design as a photo montage on a photo of your wall. So you see the effect on the real building, not on white paper.
Two rounds of revisions are included. A revision is an adjustment within the existing design, such as color shade, position or font size. A complete change of direction is a new design.
Many clients don't have a motif idea at the start. That is perfectly normal. We ask who sees the wall, what should stick with people and what fits the surroundings. If several people have a say, name one person who gives the final approval. Otherwise the discussion goes in circles. With Kickers Offenbach, we worked out the club's history over several sessions with fans and club historians. The result was the design of the Waldemar Klein Stand.
What happens between design and order?
We compare the finished design with the preliminary quote. If the motif has become more complex or simpler, we adjust the quote and send it again.
Then you approve the final quote. A simple email referring to the quote is enough. There is only a deposit on large orders from around €20,000 to €30,000. In that case you pay 20 percent before the start, 40 percent when work begins and 40 percent after the final sign-off.
How much lead time does a commission need?
Plan on four to six weeks from order to finished work. If a permit is required, that becomes eight to twelve weeks.
The time at the wall is rarely the issue. Concept, design and revisions need their time. Then come scheduling, the lift or scaffolding, and materials. If you want a facade done in summer, it's best to inquire in winter. When you need a permit is explained in the post Do I need a permit for a mural?.
How do you plan the execution?
We organize artists, lift or scaffolding, and scheduling. For each motif we choose the artist whose style fits. They receive the design and photos of the surface in advance.
Our first choice for working at height is a scissor lift. It is delivered to the site and leaves no anchor holes. If you'd rather provide the lift or scaffolding yourself, that works too. Priming and prep work are handled by our regular painter or a local painting company.
From you we need power from a standard outlet, access to the surface, water nearby and a parking spot for the vehicle close to the wall. We bring everything artistic.
What does a workday at the wall look like?
We start around 7:30 to 8 a.m. First we mask off and protect the surroundings. Then we sketch the motif onto the wall, and only after that do we start spraying.
Depending on the surface, we sketch using a VR headset, a grid, a doodle grid or a projector. The VR headset works like a projector and makes the design visible on the actual wall. At the Albrecht-Dürer-Schule in Weiterstadt we worked with film sheets laid out on a grid. The result is reminiscent of a copper engraving.
Outdoors we spray from mid-March to the end of November, and into December if the weather allows. We stop when it rains. In winter we work on interiors.
How long does the work take?
A small wall is done in one to two days, a standard project in three to seven days. Large projects with a lift and sealing take two to four weeks.
How fast it goes depends mainly on the motif. An artist can fill around 50 square meters of plain surface a day. With detailed motifs, it's 10 to 15 square meters. On large surfaces, several artists work together.
Do I need to be there during the work?
No. We need access to the surface, power and a contact person by phone.
Many clients stop by on the first day and then again for the sign-off. For projects spanning several days, we send you a daily progress photo. If you'd like to watch, you're welcome. You won't be in the way.
How does the sign-off work?
We do the sign-off together with you on site, at the finished wall. Before that, Marcus Dörr has inspected the work himself.
Marcus is on site for every commission. Either he works on it himself, or he comes at the end and inspects the work. Anything that isn't right he sorts out with the artist, and it gets touched up. Only then do we hand the result over to you. The final photos are taken by Marcus or the artist on site.
The invoice arrives one to two days after completion. Payment is due within 14 days. After that, we'd love a review or a few words about your project. How to care for your mural afterward is covered in the post How long does graffiti last on a facade?. You can find examples of finished walls under Projects.
Frequently asked questions about the process
How does the process work, step by step?
You send photos, measurements, budget and preferred date. We reply within 24 hours and put together a preliminary quote. Then you approve the design, followed by the final quote. Next come planning, execution and the joint sign-off on site.
How far in advance do I need to inquire?
Plan on four to six weeks from order to finished work. With a permit, it's eight to twelve weeks. For a facade in summer, it's best to inquire in winter.
Will I see the motif before any spraying starts?
Yes, always. You see the design as a photo montage on a photo of your wall. We only plan the execution once you've approved it.
How often can I change the design?
Two rounds of revisions are included. A revision is an adjustment within the existing design, such as color, position or font size. A complete change of direction is a new design.
Does someone from our side need to be on site?
No. We need access to the surface, power and a contact person by phone. For the sign-off, we meet at the finished wall together.
