It’s that time again!
This Friday’s dose of globe-trotting design inspiration comes from Studio Director Rich Rickaby. Check out Rich’s picks from Amsterdam, a city rife with history and artistic heritage. Red bricks, meandering canals and those famously vibrant tulips are just the start of the aesthetic adventure that is Amsterdam. Enjoy!
Missed the first edition of Out and About? You can catch up here.
All Images – Edward Garrity for SpikedSeltzer
Look no further: we’ve found the perfect summer drink.
This season when the hot town gets you down, follow the siren’s call and get your hands on some SpikedSeltzer. The original hard seltzer, SpikedSeltzer offers a crisp, delicious buzz that’s lighter than beer and more refreshing than wine.
SpikedSeltzer is brewed with cold-pressed fruit extracts and comes in four refreshing varieties: Indian River Grapefruit, Cape Cod Cranberry, Valencia Orange, and West Indies Lime. Bright flavors, the perfect amount of bubbles, and 6% ABV? We’re sold.
SpikedSeltzer is the bubbly brainchild of Nick Shields, a 5th-generation brewer who’s no rookie in the beverage game. Shields cut his teeth at Nantucket Nectars and honed his skills at Wolffer Estate before returning to his family’s trade, drawing on knowledge of both brewing and winemaking to develop SpikedSeltzer – the original hard seltzer.
Shields began by brewing 5-gallon batches of seltzer in his garage, tweaking and refining almost 100 batches to reach the perfect blend. He and co-founder Dave Holmes brought SpikedSeltzer to the market in 2013 and have grown it into a national brand in remarkable time. As of this spring, SpikedSeltzer is available in all 50 states as well as Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands.
Shields and Holmes are true innovators. With the launch of SpikedSeltzer they didn’t just disrupt a category; they created one.
SpikedSeltzer Co-Founders Dave Holmes and Nick Shields
We were lucky enough to interview Shields about his history as a brewer, the inception of Spiked Seltzer, and his favorite summer cocktail. Read on.
What inspired you to create SpikedSeltzer?
“With a couple decades in beverage product development, I’m prone to thinking of what’s next. I wanted to offer people something completely new, better-for-you, and refreshing in the alcohol space.”
You’ve got some great cocktail recipes on your site. What’s your favorite way to drink Spiked Seltzer?
“I’m partial to the tequila-infused cocktails with SpikedSeltzer – the Margarita Fizz and the Paloma. But there are so many more combos that we haven’t published yet, particularly almost any red liqueur mixed with SpikedSeltzer cranberry. Try mixing it with Campari – excellent.”
And how about that logo?
“Dave and I both row in sculls on the ocean. Personally, I get a lot of my inspiration on the water, especially towards the end of a workout. Mermaids are sleek, feminine, powerful, and mysterious creatures. They are said to be able to lead you to discovery. We like that story.”
We’ll drink to that.
SpikedSeltzer is available nationwide, wherever beer is sold. For more information check out the SpikedSeltzer site and be sure to show them some love on the ‘gram. Happy Drinking!
Here at WC&Co, we’ve got more than a few globe-trotters on our team.
When we’re not busy working away in our NYC office, we’re out exploring the world, taking design inspiration from the rich patterns, textures, colors, and cultures of the places we go. We bring that inspiration back home with us and turn it into creative fodder for excellent design.
We want to share this adventure with you, so we’re starting a new Friday Feature on the WC blog! Once a month, one member of ourWC family will share a few of their favorite photos from a trip that’s inspired them.
We’re kicking this week off by bringing you 9 shots from our Associate Creative Director Jodi Lubrich. These are Jodi’s top picks from Prague, a stunning city with a rich and palpable history, enchanting architecture and of course, some very large beers. Enjoy! 
We’re back from Chicago after a lively and action-packed week at the HOW Design Live conference! The WC team hit the Windy City to immerse ourselves in the world of design and catch up with some of the best and brightest creative minds. A big thank you to HOW Design and The Dieline – we’ll see you next year!
At the Museum of Sex, sophisticated design in a curated collection of kink and curiosity.
In New York, a city renowned for its museums and home to reliquaries of the world’s great art, design, and history, one establishment stands apart from the rest. Nestled on a bustling midtown corner, the Museum of Sex, known colloquially as the MoSex, presents an elegant and informed look at human sexuality throughout history and in the present day. Installations from visiting artists compliment an eclectic rotation of in-house exhibitions, sourced from the 1500+ objects and works of art housed in the permanent collection.
Always on the hunt for good design, we were particularly struck by the sleek, modern aesthetic of the museum’s recently expanded gift shop.
We’re back from the Package Design Matters Conference in sunny Bonita Springs, Florida! It was a busy three days where we listened to insightful and inspiring speakers, exchanged ideas, and connected with fellow leaders in the industry. On Thursday, WC&Co led a roundtable discussion focused on megatrends in culture, technology, and retail that are shaping the future of design and innovation. Check out our Trend Report for our key takeaways on what to watch for in 2017 and beyond. Continue reading
An Interview with Jim Muchmore, Founder of Muchmore Design and organizer of the Save El Chocó Silent Art Auction.
Photos courtesy of savethechoco.com
WC & Co. is thrilled to be hosting the Save El Chocó Silent Art Auction tomorrow night. Organized by one of our former employees, Jim Muchmore, the auction will benefit the Centro Jambatu of Fundación Otonga, an NGO that’s established a reserve in the endangered Ecuadorian region of El Chocó. We chatted with Muchmore about the project and how he’s using great design to do good. Continue reading
We’re hosting a Silent Auction, hosted by Jim Muchmore, to save El Choco, a rain forest in Ecuador. Jim “grew up” at Wallace Church, where he started as an intern, got hired, learned plenty and now he’s using his talents to promote ecological sustainability. We’re proud and happy for Jim as well as pleased to host this worthwhile endeavor. See you there!
