GUIDELINES TO SUCCESSFUL LIGHTING PROJECTS

Since establishing Jefferson Art Lighting Company in 1976, Teri Arthur Jefferson, has worked as an academic historian, applied artist, sculptor and entrepreneur specializing in both the design and manufacture of decorative lighting fixtures as well as all phases of historic lighting preservation. He has established expertise in the areas of professional research, consultation, specification, development and implementation of lighting for prominent national projects. Whether he is designing unique custom lighting, developing performing professional specifications, performing delicate restoration work, retrofitting existing fixtures to modern safety standards, fabricating accurate reproductions or creating authentic replications from historic archival documents, Teri recommends always adhering to the following guidelines to insure successful lighting projects:

•Develop a good working relationship with the client and his agents by creating a spirit of mutual trust, cooperation and teamwork through good communication.

•Create reasonable contractual agreements and payment arrangements for professional consulting, developing legal specifications, preparing shop drawings and allowing the use of proprietary information in matters of design.

•Perform the pictorial and documentary research necessary to design, reproduce, replicate or restore fixtures.

•Insure sound financial arrangements by insisting on signed contracts, purchase orders, adequate deposits, progress payments for extended work and contractual terms which guarantee mutual protection for all parties.

•Negotiate work schedules which specify adequate time periods for performing various functions, provide for necessary approvals without costly delays and make allowances for possible unforeseen circumstances.

•Determine the best types of materials and constructions to be utilized.

•Resolve any design defects or other problems that might affect historic authenticity, undermine structural integrity or compress available fabricating schedules.

•Develop a full scale drawing of each fixture and its component parts for approval based upon accurate field or scale measurements. These must include the overall height of the ceiling mounted fixture, measured from the ceiling to the lowest part of the fixture and the outside diameter including shades. The overall height and extension from the wall measurements will be required for wall sconce designs.

•Generate patterns and sample castings, finishes and sub-assemblies for appropriate review when necessary.

•Create temporary or permanent molds for producing quantities of flawless interchangeable castings.

•Plan and produce specialty fixtures and jigs for accurate machining and assembly operations.

•Coordinate delivery, access, assembly, wiring and mounting concerns with owner, general contractor and their electrical contractor to facilitate smooth installations.

•Protect finished assemblies from damage or loss prior to shipment including insured storage if necessary.

•Insist that purchaser provide an authorized agent to receive and approve fixtures and make C.O.D. payments at time of delivery.

•Ship completed sub-assemblies or fixtures to the construction site with simple handling and installation instructions.

•Supervise assembly of sub-assemblies and installation by owner's licensed electricians, make final adjustments to assembly.

•Repair any minor damage to finishes sustained during shipping or installation, if necessary.

•Supply simple maintenance instructions promoting non-invasive cleaning methods and materials.

•Request written proof of complete satisfaction from client as soon as possible.

•Increase capacity, handle multiple complex projects and retain a flexible stance during changing economic conditions without sacrificing quality or reliability by maintaining ready accessibility to additional work space and a pool of skilled labor on an "as needed" basis.