Chris Ellingham Email & Phone Number

Colchester, Uk

DesignPrime.co has been created as an innovative Design & Project Management consultancy, known for consistently delivering creative, profitable and compliant Retail projects on time and on budget. DesignPrime's founder, Chris Ellingham, has a passion for providing solutions in which the maximum desired result is created with the minimum required change.

Dubai, Uae

A privately held company established in 1979 with some 80 retail & 7 automotive brands operating around 200 stores & 23 showrooms across 12 countries in the Middle East. The Group employs some 9,000 personnel.Reported to the Group Directors, COO & Dept heads.· Oversight of the Group’s feasibility studies for 1m sq ft Department store developments of bloomingdale’s, Macy’s and Harvey Nichols and consequent developments. · Sole Design/ Project Manager and Client’s Project Representative for bloomingdale’s Dubai. The store (and shop in shop’s) opened on the exact forecast date, to the agreed budget and within the severe constraints imposed by the Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping centre. · Designed and design-managed numerous mono branded retail projects covering fashion, jewelry, lifestyle, beauty, home and f&b including Ralph Lauren, Alexander McQueen, Jimmy Choo, Stella McCartney, Gap, Mama’s & Papa’s. Gucci, Chanel, Keihls & Dior etc.· Created and implemented a fully detailed & compliant quality management system covering all Project Department activities including matters such as design reviews and document control procedures. · Developed and monitored the Group’s Risk Analysis and Mitigation reports for major projects.· Responsible for consultant procurement and ongoing design / fee management of external design, mep design, cost and project management consultancies including production scheduling.· Created accurate project resource forecasting, managed team performance, career reviews, recruitment interviewing and selection (achieving 95% success rate of candidates recruited).

A privately-owned retailer operating some 60 Hallmark stores & 5 Toystore brands in the Middle East.Reported to the Owner/ Directors.• Designed & managed 7 Hallmark roll-out shops and 4 no 10,000 – 22,000 sq ft toystore’s.• Managed contactor procurement, site works and final accounts; saving the company some £150,000.

Dubai, Uae

Fusion Interior Design LLC: 2004 – 2005A privately-owned fit-out Contractor covering retail & leisure developmentsReported to the Owner/ Direcectors. • Created new concept designs, visuals, details, prototyping & graphic identity for The Toystore; a new 17,000 sq ft venture for Gulf Greetings, project managing the fit-out to an on-time, on-budget completion.• Designed/managed 4 Costa Coffee fit-outs & concept planning of 2 ‘Magic Planet’ children’s play zones.

Dubai, Uae

A company created by HH Shk. Mohd. Al Maktoum for private yacht design & re-fits.Reported to the General manager & lead designer.• Contracted to manage/validate/ value engineer all design, mep & technical input/output & ensure Lloyds compliance for 145m private yacht; comprising Royal & 45 1st class suites, night club, restaurants, deck facilities, crew accommodation & kitchens etc.

London, Uk & Hong Kong, Prc

A multi-disciplinary consultancy covering architecture, interior & graphic design.• Responsible for business development, all personnel matters & quality assurance. • Introduced compliance with European employment law, CPD & formulated new service contracts.• Developed new business strategies leading to new & successful projects beyond of the business norms.• Created the Group’s quality management procedures, certified as compliant by the BSI (“the best seen”).• Successfully led teams on such diverse projects as wayfinding for 40-acre Salisbury Health Trust; the entire system-wide bi-lingual wayfinding signage & graphic packages for the New Delhi mass transit railwand the refurbishment of the University of Wales Arts Centre.

London. Uk

An MEP consultant/ contractor.Reported to General Manager of ‘Aspect’ a new division covering commercial fit-outs• Produced feasibility documents for analyzing compliant commercial office building accommodation.• Produced planning & designs for ‘Clean Rooms’, associated facilities & assisted in fee submissions.

London, Uk

A 200 staff multi-disciplinary consultancy covering architecture, interior & graphic designReported to Managing Director & Director of Interiors.• Reviewed all design & review activities to ensure all were undertaken in good time resulting in my team (2.5% of the total resource) generated 10% of the Companies gross profit, the highest level known.• Generated new business resulting in the design and roll-out of 20 Sainsbury coffee shop concepts. • As Lead designer, successfully remodeled Harwich passenger terminal with greatly improved passenger flows, retail opportunities, baggage handling and Customs, Immigration & Special branch facilities. • Absorbed another 30-strong division team who were very substantially behind in delivering 60 financial retail stores, with severe risk of losing the company substantial fees. Following a critical path review, met the team, met the Client, initiated daily ‘catch-ups’ and provided clear sense of purpose/ direction. The re-energised team changed their work ethic and successfully completed all projects as per the original brief with all fees being agreeably settled as per the contract.

London, Uk

An Architectural partnership specializing primarily in new build & building refurbishmentsReported to the Partners• Accurately surveyed, designed & project managed 40 fast-track, roll-out fit-outs for Abbey National BS’s. Successful programming was key to ensure all branches remained open for business at all times.• Produced all fully detailed architectural drawings, covering all building regs for 3 multi storey buildings within the Poole Harbour Yacht Club complex. The Main Contractor welcomed the drawings and specs as the ‘best they had seen’. The brief was extended to cover the marina, chandlery & hotel facilities. • As interior design & arch assistant, undertook all building & drainage surveys and created all planning, designs and details in enabling the complete renovation of the old Archbishops Temple school for the historical Marine Society. Facilities included new offices & boardroom, library, cookery school. sports club & student accommodation. The brief included relocation of the Society’s valuable works of art and other artifacts from existing premises and the completed facility was formally opened by HM Queen Elizabeth.

London, Uk

A 250-staff architectural practice with an interior design department.Reported the Chief Interior Designer & Director of Architecture.• Developed interior design skills under the mentoring of the Chief of Interior Design before requesting transfer to the architecture dept to better understand building construction. Won plaudits for the quality of work produced and rapid understanding of detail.• Undertook a wide variety primarily commercial & hospitality of projects such as space planning on the NatWest Tower; interior designs for the London Press Centre, architectural detailing & interiors for Park Tower & Sheraton Park hotels;