Since Chef Mike’s Sub Shop opened in Uris Hall in 2022, Columbia Dining and their partners in Strategic Communications have worked to transform the space. Formerly home to Uris Deli, the existing space needed to be reconfigured for the new grab-and-go dining concept, including ways to guide students through the ordering process.
Columbia Print was instrumental in bringing that vision to life, completing a signage redesign this summer that transformed the Sub Shop before the Fall rush began while displaying a cohesive Columbia Dining identity.
The team helped translate creative concepts designed by Strategic Communications into physical graphics that would work within the Sub Shop’s unique dimensions. Print team member Steve Gordon was particularly involved in the process, helping determine the appropriate sizes and proportions for the graphics by physically measuring the space and providing ratios and file templates for the designs.
The result is a comprehensive visual transformation. Directional signage helps students understand where to go and how to get their meals, while posters, large-scale wall graphics, and a custom wrap for the cashier's stand help define the space as a Columbia Dining location.
“Print’s collaborative approach helped turn our vision into reality,” said Katie McCluskey, Associate Director for Strategic Communications. “Together, we transformed a space that wasn’t originally designed for our concept into one that feels cohesive, on-brand, welcoming, and importantly, fun! Their partnership was instrumental in bringing the Chef Mike’s experience to life — Print really does make dreams come true.”
The Columbia Print team also installed the finished graphics, ensuring that each piece was properly positioned and that the collection of signs and graphics worked together as a cohesive experience.
The transformation builds on the distinctive visual identity Strategic Communications and Columbia Dining established for Chef Mike’s Sub Shop, which won a Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) award in 2023. The location's playful branding was originally developed to give Chef Mike’s its own personality while remaining firmly connected to the Columbia Dining brand. That creative approach has become an important part of the location's success, and the new environmental graphics extend that identity throughout the physical space.
Chef Mike’s offers students a variety of quick dining options, including build-your-own subs and wraps, express specials, and grab-and-go choices. The new graphics help make those options easier to understand at a glance, particularly for students who may be navigating the space for the first time.
The project is also an illustrative example of what Columbia Print brings to campus beyond traditional print production. The team offers design, printing, and production services for the Columbia community, and they will work with campus partners to make any project come to life.
"For the Print team, the project was a chance to demonstrate how thoughtful print and production can change the way a space looks, and how people experience it," said Steve Gordon. “Close collaboration with our partners was key to the project's success and reflects the approach we bring to every job.”
