The Plan.
Ideas and the actual plan were created and forwarded to the Project Manager for approval. (First the interior of the OPS Room, then the exterior with the ship and quay.)
In search of options.
Scouting the terrain, looking for a suitable location, followed by taking measurements and pictures so a detailed plan could be made which object could be in which position.
Assembling a “crew” for construction and acquiring building materials.
The crew was directly instructed by Mary-Rose, keeping communication clear and smooth. Building materials were either purchased at low cost, or reused.
The Building Phase.
This phase was realized in a short period of time, thanks to a good plan and regular inspections “on site” by Mary-Rose.
As the construction of the “ship” was kept a secret, nosy employees were elegantly kept at a distance.
The crew.
Interaction with the crew was very pleasant. During construction, a common lunch was used as progress meeting, while enjoying the sunshine.
Because of this atmosphere, the crew (carpenters, electricians and others) was highly motivated and they didn’t mind to go the extra mile to get things done on schedule.
Acquiring new attributes.
This was usually realized at a low price. Mary-Rose is very creative in purchase and adaptation of attributes, always with a stylish result.
The fine details are not forgotten, such as: a top light, green/red navigation lights, steering wheel, displays on the Bridge and a real flag which was moving by the wind of a ventilator. Every visitor was talking about this!
Special effects, realized by talented persons.
For Mary-Rose’s vast network, a number of talented people were invited to contribute to the project. Some examples:
– a painted railing, which looked so real, that people regularly tried to grab it.
– the wooden ship, hull constructed out of pallets, which were so creatively treated that they seemed to be made of metal.
– an enormous panoramic view of a harbor (printed on wallpaper), street lamps which gave the impression of being on a quay at night.
– especially selected plants, which grow well under artificial light.
– professional stickers for the side-number, donated by a manager from another department, who was informed of the project.
Dressing the ship’s “crew”.
The “crew”, represented by professional manikins, needed to be dressed up in Navy uniforms.
Several ex-Navy employees offered to lend their uniform, with the only restriction that they needed to be secured.
After consulting with the carpenters, a security cable was attached and the Bridge was now manned by 4 crew members in uniform.
Toen ik in 2013 Mary-Rose Kolkman verzocht om in het bedrijf waar ik werk een aparte multifunctionele ruimte met tentoonstellingsruimte in te richten, had ik wel verwachtingen, maar geen vermoeden dat het resultaat en de effecten zo positief en indrukwekkend zouden uitpakken.
The feeling of being transported from a dull office building on going through the door into the multifunction area was very strong. A space to discuss out of the normal office environment, leading to a journey to the “ship” then into the operations room was a powerful mental scene setting that gently but effectively transformed the thinking of those entering the space. The way in which the transitions were managed from “outside” to “seaside” to shipside to operation was subtle but powerful – leading the visitor on a journey where they wanted to see the next thing to be revealed and engage with what they found there..
All in all, a very innovative approach to a classic problem – how to engage with customers on their terms. The memory of my first visit will stay with me a long time!
Wauw, thank you so much for this review!
It is so nice when someone – like yourself – can look through the overall experience to notice the details.
It was a pleasure meeting you and to be a witness of your enthusiasm; a welcome surprise in an unexpected setting.
A new memory I will cherish.