© 2010 Google, Map Data © 2010 Tele Atlas. Inset image property of Chute Gerdeman.

I like beer. You like beer. Most everybody likes beer. So when my sister invited me on a tour of the New Belgium Brewing Company on a recent visit to Ft. Collins, CO, I said “Sure, why not?”

Turns out, it was a whole lot more than delicious. New Belgium is the real deal. A combo of excellent product, thoughtful company culture, fantastic marketing, and actual fun—in other words, the New Belgium brand brought playfully and organically to life in their beer-making headquarters—open for all to enjoy.

Image propery of Chute Gerdeman

The brewery journey begins in the “Liquid Center,” where guests are encouraged to sample all the brews on tap. A knowledgeable and friendly tour guide walked us through the brewing cycle, showing how science meets the art of craft brewing. Read more…

Ever notice how some people have oodles of really cool stuff on their desk? Elaine, a Senior Designer on our Brand Communications team, is one of those people. Here’s a snapshot and a few words from our “print-cess.”

1. Exchange mug, a memento from the Exchange store brand opening in Oklahoma City last week.

2. Jerry, our beloved mascot from French Paper Company. “Today, he’s sporting an army mask in support of the work we’re doing for the Exchange. He’s a stylish man who likes to change up his look. Paper reps have to look sharp at all times.”

3. “Print-cess“ clipping from a fashion mag she found years ago. “It describes me to a ‘T.’ I love patterns and prints! The more colorful and fun, the better.”

4. Watercolor bird print from a local artist Yumi Yumi—artwork from a fellow CCAD alum. “I love her work. I have her prints hanging in my living room at home.”

5. Postcard from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. “My favorite ice cream in the world is Jeni’s pistachio and honey. I want some right now, actually….”

And here’s a little about the lady behind this desk…

Read more…

Image propery of Chute Gerdeman

With the cutting of the ribbon at Tinker Air Force Base today, a brand new Exchange experience begins, as The Army & Air Force Exchange Service (otherwise known as AAFES) unveils an ambitious new brand and store concept.

The new corporate brand will simply be called the Exchange. The new tagline, “You Save, We Give Back,” emphasizes the organization’s competitively low prices and mission to provide annual dividends to the Army’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation and Air Force Services programs. The Exchange gives back to the military community with every transaction and is a gathering place for its shoppers and their families.

With the launch of the new retail concept, military shoppers will enjoy a world-class experience that offers everything they need to outfit themselves and their families’ unique lifestyle. The Exchange needed an update to be their customers’ number one choice in today’s competitive retail marketplace in-store and online. Read more…

Photo Credit: Mark Steele Photography Inc.

It’s not every day you get to design a sleek and modern, technology-filled, high-energy store environment for one, let alone two, NFL teams. Partnering with Delaware North Companies, Chute Gerdeman recently developed a state-of-the art retail store at New Meadowlands Stadium, home of both the New York Giants and New York Jets. Read more…

Image property of Chute Gerdeman

It’s International Chocolate Day! Lucky for us, Chuties seem to have one thing in common—a love for all things food. Our palates range from sweet to savory, simple to sophisticated, but one thing’s for sure—we’re all opinionated! On this oh-so-important food holiday, we took a poll around the office to see which chocolate reigns supreme. “What’s your favorite chocolate?” No specifics (as we could go on forever when it comes to packaging, store environment, recipes, etc.). For today, we kept it simple. The results please!

Image via Designtex

On my recent trip to NeoCon, I was introduced to writeUp h2o, a brand new product supplied by Designtex. WriteUp is a topical, clear paint that can be applied to painted walls and surfaces to create a dry erase board. The great thing is that it allows for writable surfaces in unlimited sizes and colors—the possibilities are endless! No more pre-configured standard sizes; and if a client asks for a hot pink writable surface, it’s now an easy request to fulfill.

Image property of Chute Gerdeman

WriteUp is a water-based, low-VOC product that could contribute to LEED EQ credits. Installation is easy too, it’s applied with a roller on top of already painted walls and surfaces. The finish is glossy, and fancy markers aren’t required—just standard dry erase markers and erasers can be used.

Image via Designtex

I love the flexibility in this product. Any quality paint can be used as the base color, which makes specifying easy. When the writable wall requires a color change, the wall just needs to be sanded, primed, and painted. Unlike typical dry erase boards, writeUp h2o is also repairable.