2 ways you can work with us

  • The most comprehensive way to work with Manufacturing Taste. Ideal for clients seeking to define what an asset should become and develop it from commercial proposition through to architectural concept.

    We operate at the earliest concept stage, when the asset’s market position and development brief are still open - and therefore valuable.

    We bring positioning, leasing, branding and architecture into a single process, working alongside the client team, agents and branding consultants from the outset. This ensures that the commercial proposition is expressed through the architecture rather than applied to it later.

    Scope of Services

    • Define the asset’s commercial proposition, target occupier and market position in collaboration with the client, branding and leasing teams

    • Translate the proposition into a strategic design brief, spatial strategy and planning logic

    • Develop the architectural concept, including form, spatial organisation, material direction, concept layouts and target-occupier test fits

    • Coordinate with branding and leasing teams so that design, identity and market narrative reinforce one another

    • Establish the principles against which the proposition can be preserved through later project stages

    Deliverables

    • Commercial positioning summary defining the target occupier, property proposition and competitive position

    • Strategic design brief

    • Architectural concept package, including plans, layouts, key diagrams, visual language and material direction

    • Strategic design narrative for leasing and marketing use

    • Framework for reviewing continuity through project development

    Outcome

    A coherent and differentiated property proposition, expressed through its architecture, brand and leasing strategy.

    Optional ongoing role

    We can remain involved through planning and delivery as strategic concept guardian, helping protect the original proposition as market conditions and project requirements evolve.

  • A focused strategic review for developers, investors and leasing agents who want to challenge the market assumptions surrounding an asset before committing to feasibility or design development.

    The review identifies where the current approach may be limiting the asset’s potential and recommends a positioning direction for further development. It can stand alone as early strategic advice or form the first step towards a Strategic Concept and Positioning engagement.

    Scope

    • Review of an asset, acquisition or development opportunity

    • Assessment of its existing market assumptions, competitive context and potential occupiers

    • Identification of commercial risks, missed opportunities and sources of differentiation

    • Evaluation of the asset’s inherent architectural, cultural and locational qualities

    • Recommendation of a positioning direction and the opportunity it could unlock

    Deliverable

    A concise strategic document setting out the positioning opportunity, supporting rationale, initial design principles and recommended next steps.

    Outcome

    Clarity on whether the asset warrants repositioning, what direction offers the greatest potential and what the subsequent strategic and design process should explore.

Work with us

why work with us

A viable scheme is not necessarily a competitive product. We see positioning as more than performance metrics: it is also about how an asset is perceived, valued and preferred by the market.

By bringing leasing, architecture and branding together before the brief is fixed, we can:

  • Test whether the asset has a credible basis for competitive advantage that a conventional appraisal might not capture.

  • Develop that potential into a coherent market proposition comprising a design, branding, and marekting strategy

  • Test it with the leasing market and present it to funding partners.

  • De-risk the decision to commit significant capital.

  • help define the brief.

Our Process

convene the strategic table

We bring the developer, letting agent and branding team together at the outset.

Before plans are drawn, we define:
– Who the project is for
– What cultural and commercial space it will occupy
– How it should compete in its market

Positioning is agreed before form is fixed.

translate positioning into architecture

We convert that shared strategy into spatial logic — layout hierarchy, circulation, material language and visual identity aligned with the target occupier and market position

Architecture becomes the physical expression of the leasing and branding narrative.

Not a parallel exercise. Not an afterthought.

align delivery with intent

As the project architect develops the scheme through planning and coordination, we remain involved at key milestones to ensure the original strategic clarity is preserved.

Positioning must survive value engineering.

What this enables

  • Look beyond traditional viability metrics to determine whether the asset offers a credible basis for competitive advantage.

  • Develop that potential into a coherent proposition.

  • Test the proposition with the leasing market and funding partners.

  • De-risk the decision to commit capital.