COMPUSA LOOKS TO CANADA FOR DESIGN ADVICE
By Adnews Staff
CompUSA of Dallas, Texas looked north of the border when it decided to redesign its superstore in Chicago. The computer retailer hired Shikatani Lacroix Design of Toronto last year to give the store a more upbeat design. The exterior lobby of the store is now glass so people on the street either walking or driving by can see through to the graphics on the walls. Customers riding the escalator to the third floor of the building where CompUSA is located will see a collage of computer and digital images, as well as audio messages related to the graphics. Large photo banners four-feet wide by 32-feet long reinforce the company's values: training, corporate, technical and business services. The overall effect of the design is modern and high tech. Each department is highlighted with graphic panels. Until now, the stores projected a suburban image in gray and red monotone colors. Shikatani Lacroix is now in the process of redesigning CompUSA outlets in Cambridge, Massachusetts, San Francisco and New York.