DD&F was very happy to meet Mark and Karen Vojtek, owners of Culinary Solutions, back in November. “Once we met them and listened to their story, we could really identify with their struggle. Being a business owner in this down economy, a husband and wife duo trying to run a business and also manage family life at the same time…their story really touched us,” says Sandy Bruce. 

Mark and Karen had been through a rough couple of years with their restaurant through the recession, and had voiced their concerns about moving forward with their business. They were facing serious financial hardship and did not know how long they could maintain their seven year old business. “We did not think twice when we were approached to be part of a renovation to the café to boost morale and keep it alive. We knew right away that our area of expertise could really help make a difference and the Mark’s Cafe project got very exciting in a short amount of time,” said  Bruce.

Before we knew it, there were at least six businesses on board, and board meetings began titling the project “Saving Mark’s Café.” DD&F was on the team, and was responsible for rebranding, designing and fabricating a fabulous new interior, to match the inside of the cafe with the quality and caliber of the food that comes out of Mark’s kitchen.

BEFORE PHOTOS OF CULINARY SOLUTIONS:

Other businesses involved in the “Saving Mark’s Café” project include Farnham Design; a designer in charge of the new logo, menus and rebrand, Bright Bokeh; a team of local videographers,  Chris Loomis Photography; a photographer who was responsible for before/during/after photos, Vanderwall PR, a local PR representative who helped distribute news about the project, Social Media Mad Scientists; a company who helped with our viral videos and facebook page, The Follow Us Agency, the Saving Mark’s Cafe project manager,  Esquared Builders, general contractor responsible for demolition, TR Painting painted the new interior,Dale Cartwright Flooring completed the new floor, and Paul Swek;  a local artist who created the tabletop design overlays.

After many meetings, decisions, and networking, the restaurant demolition began on Monday, May 9^th, with Mother’s Day as their last day operating as Culinary Solutions. The floor installation, and painting followed the same week, and , and on May 16th, DD&F came to the restaurant to install all of the new components, and completely revamp the café.

Here are the original renderings that were presented by DD&F:

 DEMOLITION

DD&F INSTALLATION

Mark’s Café opened the doors for customers for the reveal on May 19th.  AFTER PHOTOS

The café had a “Re-Grand Opening” on May 25^th. Mark’s Café is located on the corner of Rural and Guadalupe at 6340 S. Rural Road, Suite 120 Tempe, Arizona. For information on Mark’s Café, please visit www.markscafeaz.com or you can call 480-839-6455.

Links to news coverage on Mark’s Café:
6/9/2011 – Arizona Republic – http://www.azcentral.com/community/tempe/articles/2011/06/09/20110609tempe-culinary-solutions-cafe-tempe-gets-makeover-new-name-marks-cafe.html?source=nletter-news

5/25/2011 – ABC 15 – http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_southeast_valley/tempe/tempe-restaurant-saved-by-community

5/17/2011 – East Valley Tribune – http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/local/the_valley/ahwatukee/article_e51153d0-a09a-500f-9ae9-36a824c378f5.html

5/17/2011 – Ahwatukee Foothills News – http://www.ahwatukee.com/news/article_5b76a9d8-8012-11e0-83ec-001cc4c002e0.html

5/16/2011 – Mouth X Southwest – http://mouthbysouthwest.com/2011/05/16/customers-help-turn-culinary-solutions-cafe-into-marks-cafe/

5/13/2011 – Arizona Republic – http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/dining/articles/2011/05/13/20110513culinary-solutions-cafe-tempe-changes-name-marks-cafe.html

5/10/2011 – Phoenix New Times – http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bella/2011/05/struggling_tempe_cafe_gets_sav.php#more

5/9/2011 – Fox 10 – http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/business/hurting-cafe-in-tempe-gets-free-renovation-5-9-2011

If you are thinking to yourself, why I haven’t I heard of this spot yet…the hip, new restuarant just offically opened it’s doors on Monday, May 9th.

First of all, let us tell you, Betty’s Nosh is like no other!  Check out the inside of this place!

When you arrive to grub on the “nosh”, you can take your seat one of the Zen or Parson’s tables. The tables are square or round, and were created in various sizes, with distressed alder tops, deep expresso stains and alder legs and steel bases.

You won’t have any trouble finding the restrooms with these fun and funky signage plates for the “burts” and ”betty’s”. The plates are brushed aluminum with painted acrylic, incorporated with fabric from the restaurant”s interior, with customized symbols for each.  The restroom signs were a lot of fun to create and play with the incorporating fabric.

A few othere notables around the restaurant include the Betty’s Nosh blackboard, which DD&F framed with a distressed frame, in a deep espresso stain and clear epoxy finish to match the tables.

We also designed kitchen screens that gives the kitchen a little privacy from the restaurant which are made out of aluminum construction.

Last but not least, we can’t forget all of the signage inside and outside the restaurant. For the mushroom bar signage we designed 3D white and red letters.  The double-sided sign hung above the entrace of Betty’s Nosh, is a painted panel with dimensional letters, with metal patina. On the glass windows surrounding the private dining room, we enhanced the space with decorative, translucent imaging with the Betty’s Nosh logo.

For the exterior sign, we used illuminated pan channel letters with neon illumination.

For more information on Betty’s Nosh, you can visit http://www.bettysnosh.com/ or join them on facebook.

Can you have any more fun than skulking around junkyards for salvageable stuff,and making money doing it? Enter a local fabrication company who specializes in the three R’s – reuse, repurpose and recycle.

They are refreshingly eco-centric across virtually every aspect of their business. So who is it? Down in the industrial district of Phoenix lies a fascinating workshop that transforms seemingly useless plastic, steel and aluminum discards into beautiful, dimensional signage, exhibits, kiosks and displays. For a perfect example, check out this utterly fabulous custom table made from recycled automotive parts for a PIR charity event. What guy wouldn’t want this treasure?

Detail Design & Fabrication (DD&F) works with architects, developers, retailers and others like Chase Field, the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Arizona Cardinals, Pulte Homes, Phoenix International Raceway, Westcor, The Children’s Museum of Phoenix and many others to create custom display or signage needs of any type. Read the whole article here.

Did the Jawa sponsorship catch your attention at the Phoenix Open this year? We hope so!

We joined forces with JAWA to design a branded environment that was produced and installed for their sponsorship at the Waste Management Open in February.

DD&F created a custom, interactive exhibit that was 800-square-feet. The JAWA exhibit was complete with an overhead sign, four touch screen towers, four interactive kiosks, triangular millwork center structure  and a free-form millwork focal point.

Our turnaround for this specific project was 10 days for design and 15 days for complete fabrication. We designed the functional exhibit with several different pieces that could be moved around and arranged for additional show configurations. We feel the clients brand really stood out at the Waste Management Open. If you saw the booth, share your thoughts!

More about Jawa: Jawa was founded in 2005, with a desire to create an environment where innovation and breakthrough ideas were fostered and realized through a diversified workforce full of exceptionally talented and motivated employees. This foundational idea has grown Jawa into a fast-growing, dynamic company where we are redefining how consumers access, receive, and share information and media.

Upon completeing the initial assignment, we were thrilled to hear that they were interested in expanding the project by having us provide complete, turnkey services at the new sales centers located in Chandler, Good Year and Marana.

We utilized our turnkey services in fabrication, millwork, signage and value engineering to bring this concept to life. Project details included fabricating and installing a complete interior for the sales center and signage for both the salescenter and the model. The interior contained custom wall build-outs, which contained dynamic lifestyle images and phrases. The custom millwork was a combination of specialty wood veneer, and a custom lacquer, high gloss finish. The bright, bold colors mixed with crisp whites will provide an energetic atmosphere for prospective buyers. Some stand-out features inside include a translucent, double-sided aerial photo of the community, window imaging, and various decorative and text imaging on the walls.

A few multimedia features include an interactive touch-screen topographic map, allowing agents a better opportunity to give prospective buyers a more in-depth look at the community and surrounding areas and a custom welcome kiosk featuring a sign-in station. We also created a marketing trailer which the builder will use for freeway recognition. For more information about Maracay Homes please visit their website at www.maracayhomes.com.

Back in 2008, DD&F teamed up with Phoenix International Raceway (PIR) to create a new concession concept located just outside Turn 2 titled, “SPEED Cantina.”

The concept of the one-of-a-kind sports bar & grill is based off a innovative collaboration with SPEED™ at Phoenix International Raceway that provides the latest at-track entertainment for NASCAR fans.   Race-goers are drawn in by the double sided illuminated sign, and park themselves at the custom bar and tables to listen to the drivers trade paint.  They don’t miss a minute of the race with flat-panel television monitors filling the venue.

DD&F just revisted the project for some image enhancements to the side walls with a brand new mural, just time time for the Kobalt Tools 500 race this weekend!

The SPEED Cantina, a one-of-a-kind entertainment venue is open for every NASCAR event in Arizona!  Opening in 2008, the venue features live music, racing-themed food and drink specials nearly every night throughout each NASCAR weekend at the track, SPEED Cantina is a hot spot for NASCAR nightlife.

Don’t worry, it is hard to miss the highly-creative bar environment – designed exclusively with NASCAR fans at PIR in mind!  SPEED Cantina welcomes patrons with 32-foot illuminated signage and features custom furnishings, a specialty bar, and a number of flat-panel television monitors highlighting live SPEED Channel broadcasts and thrilling on-track racing action at PIR. NASCAR fans attending events at PIR are able to visit SPEED Cantina at no additional cost.

For more information on the SPEED Cantina, you can find the venue just outside of Turn 2 behind the Bobby Allison Grandstands or visit PIR’s website at http://www.phoenixraceway.com/Raceday/SPEED-Cantina.aspx.

To find out more about this weekend’s schedule of events, click the link below!

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Remember our blog post about the mini-house we created  for the sponsorship project for Lennar Homes?

Well, EXCITING NEWS,  this past weekend at the Cardinals game, one lucky fan won a new Lennar home when LaRod Stephens-Howling  returned the opening kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown.

Every time an Arizona Cardinal returns an opening kickoff for a touchdown, Lennar will give away a home for free. The campaign is called “Take it to the House.”  The Lennar promotion goes through the last home game, and you have to pre-register the week of every home game to be eligible.

Here is a video from ABC 15 that showcases the return and the lucky couple. 

To see some more fun photos of the Lennar mini house that DD&F designed, check out Lennar’s facebook page!

The DD&F team sends a HUGE congratulations to the lucky winners of the new Lennar home!  To our Cardinals, GREAT game, and of course a big congrats to Lennar on a successful promotion.  Thanks so much for including DD&F with the “Take it to the House” project.  What a fun group!

PHOENIX (May 21, 2010) – Children and adults alike will soon have the opportunity to experience the brand-new, interactive learning environment, Solarville in the APS Solar Gallery, which will debut at the Arizona Science Center on Sunday, May 23. Solarville is an interactive learning environment demonstrating sun, wind, and algae as alternative energy sources. Sponsored by APS, the original concepts for Solarville were designed by local creative firm, Campbell Fisher Design (CFD) and the project was fabricated by Detail Design and Fabrication (DD&F.)

CFD’s creative direction was centered on taking a trip through a town called Solarville, an eco-friendly environment located in the APS Solar Gallery on Level 4. Guests stroll down Main Street, pass a transit station, industrial park, retail store, school, recreational area and a home while learning how solar and other renewable energy sources can be utilized in their daily lives.

“We were awarded the opportunity to transform a dark and non-traditional educational space into a bright and energetic learning experience that is not only fun and engaging, but teaches kids and adults about renewable energy and conservation,” said Greg Fisher, owner of Campbell Fisher Design.

DD&F worked closely with CFD, further enhancing the creativity of the project and bringing the exhibit to life. The colorful hallway is approximately 1800 square foot, 10 feet wide x 180 feet long and consists of 22 interactive kiosks and exhibits. Although DD&F remodeled or updated some of the exhibits, others were completely brand new concepts.

The exhibits and interactive elements that DD&F fabricated range from scientific labs that study the sun, interactive learning kiosks, as well as ways to show how we can harness and distribute sustainable green energy – from algae, to alternative fuels, to poop! Other exhibits allow participants to create power, such as the “Pedal Power” exhibit where bikes were designed to show human power and the efficiency difference of LED vs. CFL vs. incandescent lighting.

In addition to the interactive elements, DD&F also fabricated and installed the gallery signage, imaging and ceiling treatments in-house. Vertical wall extensions were accomplished by using full-color digitally printed banners. The additional 10 feet of printed graphic extended the overall height to 20 feet. Design elements such as stretch canvas triangles were used as a ceiling treatment to bring the space together.

“We were honored to team up with CFD to fabricate this exhibit for APS and Arizona Science Center,” said Shad Bruce, owner of DD&F. “We have enjoyed working with the Arizona Science Center on a variety of different exhibits and projects the past few years and Solarville was a very stimulating and challenging adventure. DD&F was able to take part in a very large science project, and we are all very pleased with the outcome of Solarville.”

ABOUT DD&F
DD&F specialties include innovative signage, interactive exhibits, kiosks, trade show booths, and all aspects of 3D components for interior or exterior environments, such as retail centers, sales offices and sports facilities. Some of their clients include the Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix International Raceway, Arizona Cardinals, Pulte Homes, Westcor, and Children’s Museum of Phoenix. For more information, please visit their website at www.ddandf.com.

ABOUT CFD
Since 1982 Campbell Fisher Design has been a nationally-recognized graphic design firm that provides superior vision, exceptional creativity and award-winning design to clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to major sports franchises to trend-setting e-commerce firms.

CFD’s outstanding reputation in local and national brand development, brand launching and new media is the result of a conscious decision to produce the best—rather than the most—work in their field. This unwavering commitment to exceed client expectations through strategic planning has earned CFD the distinction of having developed, launched and promoted some of the country’s most recognized brands.

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Media Contact:
Morgan Vanderwall
KWPR Group
574-370-8163
morgan@kwprgroup.com

Back in December, Barrow’s Neurological Institute celebrated the grand opening of The Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center (MAPC). Detail Design and Fabrication (DD&F) was responsible for the interior imaging and donor signage for the 9,100 square foot project at Barrow’s. The new space will allow MAPC to expand their services to patients providing them with the quality care they need. DD&F’s work was featured in the spring issue of Process Magazine. Page 39

DD&F recently designed and fabricated aspects of a retail-branded environment for DEFY™ Performance Apparel.

DEFY™ Performance Apparel is the first technical athletic gear line designed specifically with the physiology of the human body in mind; embodying  structure, comfort, superior design, movement, moisture management, and thermal dynamics.

DD&F custom-designed the entry signage, forming an aluminum panel with dimensional letters.

Inside the retail-environment are interior branded elements that are approximately 3 foot by 8 foot, showing beaded lifestyle images.   DD&F also custom-branded the feet details, and all of the interior imaging was created with variable function to allow movement around the retail space.