Director, Design Development
Chute Gerdeman

With more than 20 years of experience in the design industry, Steve Pottschmidt leads Chute Gerdeman’s award-winning design development team as they detail and document the design intent for each project. This includes design intent documentation for the environment, custom store fixtures, and millwork; coordination with graphic design, lighting design, and architectural and engineering consultants; and implementation coordination with vendors, fabricators, and contractors. With a hands-on, straightforward work style, Pottschmidt champions the design intent throughout the construction process, working with the client’s operational staff to ensure that the project is both apropos for the brand and functionally efficient.

He has worked with a diverse client list, including America Online, Blockbuster, C&A Brazil. Caribou Coffee, Charming Shoppes, Hamleys, LensCrafters, Limited Too, M&M’S® World, PetSmart, Pick Up Stix, Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill, Smithsonian, Timberland, Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, Warner Brothers, Pacific Theaters, and Walt Disney Imagineering.

Prior to joining Chute Gerdeman Retail, Pottschmidt was a director at Fitch. His background also includes serving as a director at Richard Trott and Partners Architects. He began his career in 1984 at Continental Office Environments after earning a Bachelor of Science in Design from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning. Pottschmidt holds accreditation from the National Council for Interior Design Qualification.