# 81 - Todd Maute, Partner at CBX

- Show: [People of Packaging](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging)
- Published: 2021-11-02
- Length: 41m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-11-02-81-todd-maute-partner-at-cbx
- Listen: https://encase.substack.com/p/81-todd-maute-partner-at-cbx-dc0

## Summary

Todd Maute, a partner at CBX, discusses his journey from fine arts illustrator to leading a global packaging design firm with offices in New York and Minneapolis. He explains how CBX helps large CPG companies and retailers manage complex brand portfolios, such as those of General Mills and Nestle, by maintaining design continuity across diverse product categories and substrates. Maute emphasizes the importance of designing in the retail environment and using data from tools like GNPD to ensure packaging resonates with target demographics, particularly Gen Z. The conversation highlights the 'Forge' methodology, which balances agile principles with design thinking to solve challenges like brand expansion into new categories while adhering to sustainability and regulatory constraints.

## Chapters

- [0:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-11-02-81-todd-maute-partner-at-cbx#t=12) Introduction: Todd Maute and CBX Background
- [3:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-11-02-81-todd-maute-partner-at-cbx#t=237) Todd Maute's Career History: From Illustrator to CBX Partner
- [14:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-11-02-81-todd-maute-partner-at-cbx#t=865) Finding Inspiration: Retail Environments, Data, and Culture
- [23:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-11-02-81-todd-maute-partner-at-cbx#t=1425) Navigating Client Constraints and Material Choices
- [32:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2021-11-02-81-todd-maute-partner-at-cbx#t=1953) Managing Brand Portfolios and the Forge Methodology

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- CBX (company)
- General Mills (company)
- Nestle (company)
- Johnson and Johnson (company)
- Damon Associates (company)
- Special Projects Group (company)
- Run DMC (product)
- GNPD (tool)
- Forge (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#203 - Packaging Your Brand 101: Jamie Valenti-Jordan and Andy Kurtts](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-07-01-203-packaging-your-brand-101-jamie-valenti-jordan-and-andy-kurtts) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Why This Architect is Choosing to Build a National CPG Wellness Brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-10-02-why-this-architect-is-choosing-to-build-a-national-cpg-wellness-brand) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#260 - Packaging Changes as you Grow with Evie's Snacks and Belmark](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-08-04-260-packaging-changes-as-you-grow-with-evies-snacks-and-belmark) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Advice Line with Christina Tosi of Milk Bar](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2026-06-11-advice-line-with-christina-tosi-of-milk-bar) (How I Built This)
- [#217 - Creative Briefs 101 with Janice Greenwald and Kat Karpati](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-10-07-217-creative-briefs-101-with-janice-greenwald-and-kat-karpati) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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