Tactically and tastefully providing creative concept, direction, management, and overview of one or more projects - Commence has a multifaceted skillset and process of keeping things fresh & updated

It's one thing to design skateboards, its another to design skateboards that we'd actually use and be proud to represent. We dove deep into not only our own, but the communities skate culture to make sure that we were speaking the language.

Enjoy The Ride

Environment was definitely a project true to our roots - as an office filled with skate and cycle fiends, we were happy to get our hands dirty with a couple of skate decks.

Enjoy The Ride 

We're fortunate to chase our passions everyday, and grinding this project out with people who were equally passionate made us even more juiced.

Culture First 

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As a company founded in skate culture (pour one out for all the times we've hit the pavement literally and figuratively), Environment was one of the original partners in creativity for Laxalt & McIver. With custom illustration and graphic design, we helped grow Environment's brand through art directed skate decks and tear sheets filled with graphics far cooler than any kick flip.

Environment Skateboards

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Some of the most rewarding partnerships we've had have come through working with people as wild as we are. Meet Deso, a lifestyle apparel brand that embraces the art of getting lost. We collaborated with them to tell their stories from #wayoutthere through graphic design, custom illustration and tear sheets. Grab some gear, go on an adventure, and tell us your story - or don't... some stories are kept between you and the wilderness.

Spend a Week In The Woods

The Commence designers collaborated closely on the project with founding principal Travis Brown and the team of directors at the the school to realize an identity that inspires and encourages exploration across the school. 

A brand that resonates with students and faculty

Pharos Academy is unapologetically committed to educating Bronx kids. Casting a huge beacon of light and achievement in one of the lowest-performing school districts in New York City.  The Commence designers developed a graphic toolkit of core elements that give the school a high degree of creative flexibility and recognition.

A Guiding Light

The primary mark is built from a combination of monogram “P” and “A” as well as a lighthouse. The name Pharos is derived from the name of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the seven wonders of the anceint world.

A monogram and a lighthouse

“The identity draws on Pharos Academy’s values to create a modern design system that reinforces the school’s bold, intellectually curious positioning.”

Pharos Academy Charter School believes in the power of team, or CREW as they call it. Commence Studio designed a set of crests to represent the crew that is the school.

The shields

What creature would you most often find near a lighthouse? A seagull no doubt. The team created a flexible set of designs featuring the fierce sea-loving character.

Charter schools have mascots too

To assist and guide how the Pharos Academy staff and students show up and contribute everyday, the team developed a set of illustrations relaying the values of Radical Inclusivity, Collaborative Curiousity, Storytelling, and more.

Illustrating Community Culture

After establishing the brand identity for Pharos Academy, the team moved forward onto the web design, strategy and development phase of the project.

Showcasing the brand to the web

Our studio worked to create a fully customized framework and design components for the Pharos Academy website. The goal was to create an easily navigated digital funnel for prospective staff members, students and their families.

Getting people where they need to go quickly

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Pharos Academy encourages the unique pathways of individuals and the design studio built the website to match that sentiment through visual storytelling and interactive pages.

Better to be bold

“Unconventional layouts bring a refreshing look to the educational institute’s website without compromising usability, legibility, and professionalism.”

The merchandise designs were inspired by sports branding and streetwear to give a “It’s cool to stay in school” subliminal message to students and staff.

Dressed for success

Banner designs showcase the school’s brand an evoke a sense of pride and familiarity for students passing them in halls each day. 

Brand systems for the halls

Institutional identity and web development for the K-12 public charter school in the Bronx, New York, that draws on the extraordinary, forward-thinking vision the school executes.

Bold in the Bronx

We're always up for a challenge. When Bombadil approached us to help them build a Lord of the Rings-inspired flower brand, we were more than up for it! It goes without saying, we have a passion for building corporate brands but love to roll our sleeves up and have a little fun as well. 

Fantastical Flowers

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The surf lifestyle and merchandise company Worldwide Nation partnered with us to create designs and illustrations for their first season of apparel. Inspired by the desire for surfers to be more connected.

Uniting Surfers

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Black Rabbit Mead Co. partnered with us to create a brand identity and packaging system for their mead. Although their product is produced with honey, they make a significantly less sweet mead than other traditional varieties. It was a goal of ours to carry over this idea to a less sweet, more eerie, and regal look for their brand.

Down the Rabbit Hole Packaging Design

The Lead Designer behind this project, #girlboss Brianna Bullentini reached out to us at Laxalt and McIver to take the reins on creative direction and branding to help take her vision to life. The goal: create a community hub where people can gather, shop, eat, drink and enjoy and do it in a way that acknowledges the history and strength behind each individual shop within the space

Creating Community 

What a city cries for is the means for people to gather easily, inexpensively, regularly, and pleasurably- a place to meet, a real life alternative to television, an easy escape from the cabin fever of the office or home.'

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One thing that stood out to us, was how many different moving parts went into the Basement. How can we create a cohesive look for a clothing boutique, a salad bar, a juice bar, and whatever other shops may happen to go into the Basement.  Also, how does this work together with the installation of the first major retailer in downtown Reno in over 30 years?

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To start creating a cohesive feel, we had to look at the similarities of all the different shops and boutiques that would be filling up the space… and the most common element? Their location. Bullentini was adamant that we bring out the natural feel of the space - a United States Post Office from the 1930’s, thats rad.  A big emphasis was not on covering it up, but rather bringing out the best of it.  Highlighting the historic beauty - bingo we found a starting point. 

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This multifaceted gem needed something to bring out it’s natural elements.  A super buttoned-up, identity wasn’t going to do it here.  Using the shape of the building, in combination with hand-lettered details, we were able to create a logotype that was modern, yet pulled the original historic elements from the space itself. 

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"The hand-lettered details and linework can be seen throughout the space and it provides a contrast of the clean, modern look alongside a historic setting."

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Now, three years since it’s inception - the Basement is home to many different local boutiques, retail stores, and even a gym. It’s captured what Bullentini has set out for it to be - a gathering place for people to come together, and celebrate life. Here's a quick overview of other projects in the Basement the L&M team got to get their hands on:

Working with the Rawbry team, we were first tasked with creating a menu design and bottle packaging that reflected their bold and edgy style. From there, we also helped to create store signage (including a sweet in-store neon sign), print collateral, and eventually redesigned the bottle to be more economical and sustainable as the brand grew and expanded.

Cold-Pressed Juice Bar

Long time partners and friends of L&M, Tahoe Nevada Love is a homegrown team that focuses on the boundless adventures and experiences both in and around our beautiful Lake Tahoe. A lifestyle brand at heart, we helped TNL create products that were both unique and fashionable. Everything from their warm winter lines, bright beach attire, drinkware, backpacks and adventure gear were made to reflect their love for the lake.

Inspiring Adventure 

Paying homage to the post office's architect, Frederick J. DeLongchamps, the branding and identity we established for Chomp combines sophistication, structure, with warm and welcoming vibes. With a focus on quality, organic, and local food, everything from the menu, print advertisements, and promotional assets were consistent in showing their clean and refined look.

Bites By Design 

One historic abandoned building, big dreamers and passionate creatives, and blood, sweat and cold pressed juices later - we’ve got the concoctions for either a 21st century West-Coast horror film, or the start of the workings of the Basement.

A Community Hub Down Under

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As the first major retailer to move into downtown in over 30 years, West Elm moving to Reno was a big deal! We were hired to produce the identity for their Hello Reno Grand Opening campaign and create assets for the WE:Local program.

Reviving Retail in Reno

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We worked in tight with the Blackbird team to develop a Brand Identity that not only showcased their innovative nature, but their ability to keep ahead of the game with the fast-growing cannabis industry. We continue to partner with this growing company to help showcase their brand through lifestyle and commercial photography, as well as creating promotional materials. Together, we knocked the Blackbird-branded socks off of all the viewers.

Branding a Marijuana Logistics Company

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We like a good whiskey. Especially when it’s smoked and made of the finest quality ingredients just down the way from our Reno studio. We revived the Forsaken River brand with a new visual identity and family of packaging, including wood veneer engraved labels.

Rye Patch Whiskey Wooden Label

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Reno eNVy has been a hometown hero of a brand to our little city since 2005 but also carries vibrations throughout our state. With an established identity that was so initially tied to an individual city we had to overhaul to the look and feel of the entire brand. We focused on a Strategic as well as Creative Direction that pulled largely from the land around us and created a look and feel to set our sails and minds in the right direction for the years to come.

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We started by creating a look for the identity and seeing how it would play out on products, on the web, and in various promotional applications. With a state so diverse, we didn’t want to alienate one part of the state or another, we’d rather create a cohesive look that every Nevadan could find themselves relating to.

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“We wrote the visual narrative behind this brand. Providing perspective and abstracting the land where I grew up was challenging for the whole team to let go of Northern Nevadan bias.”

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With any fashion brand, you often have the brandmarks appearing in a multitude of ways. Whether they’re screenprinted on tees, adding depth and detail to the website, in-store/event materials, print advertisements, or accompanied with photography, the various brandmarks used add a complexity and a feeling of cohesiveness throughout all materials.

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When thinking of Nevada, two very different things come to mind. The infamous “Welcome to Las Vegas” and “Biggest Little City” neon signs, surrounded by casinos, and the vast surroundings of beautiful landscapes, mountains, valleys, and deserts that take up much of the land around us. For the sake of this project, we chose to focus on the latter. With hand-drawn images and illustrations, custom lettering, and a feeling of being a little rough around the edges — we aimed to capture this look and feel of the land around us and turn it into something that anyone would want to flaunt.

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After the initial brand identity was approved for both print and digital, we moved on to prepare to unveil this new look to the world. Visuals are key online. We, in fact, do judge a book by its cover. We like things that look good.  And we can’t even begin to overhaul a line of  apparel if it doesn’t look appealing. We headed out to the desert, and took over an abandoned gas station, donned some of the latest looks and apparel, and photographed the clothing right where the inspiration came from, the land itself. 

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While prepping for the debut of the new site launch, we created a landing page for those to enjoy, creating excitement for the curious.

Teaser Landing Page

The brand formerly known as Reno eNVy has a storefront in Reno, Nevada.  Shocker. But there is no existing storefront in anywhere else in the state.  One hurdle was realizing just how crucial online sales are. If we’re to truly become a state-wide brand, we need to create a look and online shopping experience that not only speaks to its roots, but the entire State.

Crafting the Experience 

By creating an online experience that makes people want to scroll through the site (and simple to add things to the cart) we are able to further establish value and trust as a brand. By carrying the little bits of dust, so to speak, across the web design, we’ve creating this familiarity throughout the website, furthering trust in HMNV Co.

Online Shopping Experience 

"This is something that we’ve brought up before, its a huge step to move into a new world. Without the thoroughness of the L&M team, the brand may have very well not launched."

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Stepping into a new future, working with HMNV Co. has been exciting and deeply gratifying: expanding the story of a cherished local brand, deeply furthering their apparel line and retail shop, and creating an enjoyable and modern online shopping experience. The new Home Means Nevada Co. brand officially launched Fall 2017, with the opening reception and brand unveiling met with enthusiastic support and confidence from the community.

Reno eNVy came to us with a challenge, how do you take a beloved hyper-local brand, and elevate it into a state-wide brand? The answer is rooted in strategy, updated apparel, and an overhauled online shopping experience that anyone— not just Nevadan’s, can be proud of.

Born to be Dusty

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Growing in the high desert of Northern Nevada is difficult, but Future Fresh laughed in the face of mono-croppers everywhere and is now bringing fresh produce to the desert. It was only fitting that we made their brand identity represent innovation, all while keeping it light and simple.

Keep it simple

The Fresh Future logo was designed to represent the convenience and quality of aquaponic farming-- shaping the future of modern agriculture with sustainable, local produce for the community.

Logo Design 

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The Fresh Future color palette was created with inspiration from different crops. Contrasting colors on the warm & cool spectrum leave a lasting feeling of organic novelty.

Natural + Fresh 

We wanted to fully embody what it means to be natural. So we kept it sweet and simple

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To keep your future fresh, your delivery could be no more than a tap away.

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Through re-imagining organic produce in a box, we started creating an enticing and environmentally progressive identity for the Fresh Future Box; the aquaponics solution to the end of the Farmer's Market season. Whether it’s spicy peppers, rich butter greens, or plum tomatoes, we made sure we incorporated all elements of sweet sweet sustainability. Ensuring that they sacrificed nothing when it came to authentically representing their brand promise, we created their brand so it was replete with natural elements and vibrant visuals.

The Future of Community Supported Agriculture

We kick things off with a simple home page highlighting featured products and collections, alternatively leading customers to the studio page where they can learn more about the process, designer and shop, or flip through a lookbook of custom jewelry pieces. Fully packed with FAQ, contact forms, customer accounts, three custom product pages and a complete shop experience including an intuitive product filtering system and an encompassing cart page, this website leaves nothing out.

It's All Come Together 

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Summer Collection Product Video

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We created a custom builder to make designing semi-custom jewelry pieces reputable and straightforward. Viewing these decorative elements that we illustrated, customers can pick their favorite embellishment that will be carved into the band of their ring or added to adorn their gem.

Illustrative Detail Work 

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We wanted to make the experience personal. It was important that the customers got to actually see the heart of the company, since it’s so full of passion, integrity and breadth. Using product, lifestyle and portrait photography we we were able to feature the process and product in an intimate way.

Using The Lens

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Sometimes one solution just isn’t enough. In the case of Honey and Goldies' diverse options, utilizing three product pages created the ultimate user experience.

This design is complete with multiple photos, an overview of details and standard customizations such as ring size or chain length. Perfect for any ready to ship product with an inventory.

Keeping It Familiar 

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Adding a touch of customization and a more personalized process

This page features all of the available customizations per product, such as metal type, gemstone, band detail or ring size. Each set of options per customization is set in a horizontal scroller to enable the user to be able to see and choose each option, without overwhelming them with them all displayed at once. Ideal for any product that lends itself to easy customization for customers that don’t mind a longer make time.

Turning It Up A Notch 

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Making the perfect product for any customer, from start to finish.


Customers can create their very own completely tailored jewelry piece by filling out a form with all the required questions. After working through any additional details, Honey and Goldies easily generates a custom page, visible only to the purchaser through their customer account or special link. Complete with a summary, progress updates and a manageable payment system, this feature is the icing on the cake.

Bringing The Heat 

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Our Reno, Nevada based jeweler at Honey & Goldies hand crafts unique and irreplaceable pieces. She wanted a website that reflected the simplicity, variety and beauty of her one-of-a-kind craft. Starting from a simple, elegant color scheme, we worked with Honey and Goldies to create a stunning eCommerce website that incorporates detailed illustrations, awesome photography, 3 custom products pages and tailored back-end functionality. The combination of hard work, collaboration and a handful of diamonds, creates nothing less than a result that sparkles as bright as the gems it exhibits.

Chiseled with Charm

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As much as we love doing work for our clients, we also love doing work for our planet. In conjunction with Patagonia Action Works, we designed and implemented a mural that spanned across three of Patagonia’s vast windows. The imagery and statements were chosen to bring awareness to the fracking threat that would damage the Ruby Mountains’ landscape and habitat in search for oils and fuel. The Rubies are not only full of beauty and popular for recreation, but are also Te-Moak ancestral homelands and a place that many magnificent animals call home. We stand with the thousands of people who have already raised their voices against destroying this iconic landscape. With Patagonia’s immense following and a little paint, we hope to make a big difference for the future of Nevada’s Ruby Mountains.

Defend the Rubies

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With close Nevada ties - it’s hard not to find ourselves passionate about the land that we live on. For this partnership, we collaborated with Patagonia Action Works to create a design that best captured the land of the Gold Butte National Monument. Through t-shirts, postcards, and a mural spanning all of the windows at Patagonia’s Reno location -- we were able to help make a lasting impact.

Defending Public Lands

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It is no secret that we love to work with cannabis companies. So naturally, creating an identity and packaging system for the Alaska-based concentrate connoisseur Matanuska Apothecary was a perfect fit.

Alaskan Cannabis Dispensary Branding

The DVA color palette was created to reflect the central focus of water in their sustainable farming practice

Aquaponics Through Color 

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The Dayton Valley Aquaponics logo was designed to represent the harmony between technology and tradition, and promoting locally grown, ecologically sustainable food.

Harmony in Design 

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With eye-catching transitions and photos of their produce and facility, it invites users to learn more about DVA, sustainability, and what it means to grow fresh produce year round.

Eye Catching

The animations and movement on this site are something you'll want to experience for yourself.

See For Yourself

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Dayton Valley Aquaponics partnered with us to create a brand that represented their bio-fueled take on farming that provides fresh produce year round in the High Desert of Nevada

Rethinking Produce through Aquaponics

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The RetroRocket Coffee logo was created to express the nostalgia and excitement of mid-century space travel that inspires the RetroRocket team to roast delicous coffee. Reminding us to launch our day with gust and coffee, as well as coming back down to Earth to enjoy more, you guessed it... coffee!

It's All In The Logo 

The RetroRocket Coffee color palette was created with inspiration from parts of the Tarantula Nebula and mid-century design. Contrasting colors on the warm and cool spectrum leave a lasting feeling of wonder and nostalgia.

Let Your Mind Wonder

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We carried our space theme across every unique coffee label. From future themed lamps to UFOs themselves, these labels have it all. Paired with the pro tips, snazzy hints and intriguing company summary on the coffee bags, this packaging soars above the rest.

Packaging for the Gods

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No great coffee company is complete without some swag to rep the brand. We designed these classy t-shirts and galactic mugs for any human or alien-alike to show off.

Swag Out

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But, wait… there’s more. Prepare for a website beyond your imagination.

It’s a Rocket Tunes playlist section, it’s a rotating product display, it’s never-ending rocketism wisdom. RetroRocket’s website has it all. Starting with a featured products, scrolling to company ideology and navigating to in depth product pages, it’s an exploration that never ends.

Have It All

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Bringing the coffee buying experience to the next level. Introducing a subscription system for legends.

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You love coffee? Well, so do we. And so does RetroRocket. That’s we made it so you never need to worry about your coffee supply coming to a halt. We built a system that allows any customer to make up to four coffee subscriptions at once. You’ll be able to skip an order, change your payment method, look at delivery dates and view your purchase history too. Every subscription tool is a click away.

Easy as 1,2,3

Yes, ordering from your phone is just as easy. Pick your and your SO’s favorite coffee flavors, the amount you want, and how often you want them, then let your subscription do the rest, forever.

For Coffee Lovers, By Coffee Lovers

We couldn’t forget some brew guide love. Have a question about some brewing methods? We’ve got your back. We created a page all about coffee and brewing tips.

Knowledge Is Cool 

If one brew method is not your style, just swipe right. Every brew guide is complete with equipment, grind size, brew ratio and instructions.

Brewing Has Many Steps

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RetroRocket Coffee is a purely web based coffee brand that has it all. Starting from step one, we created the color palette, brand, packaging and website for this intuitive company. Packed full of space exploration references, sweeping design and unique web experiences, you'll want to know every detail of the rise of RetroRocket.

Launch The Day 

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L&M was tasked with bringing new energy to Off Beat, a grass roots music festival in Reno, NV. It’s a citywide, multi-venue festival that’s all about discovering the amazing new things being created right here in Reno – music, food, drink and more. 100+ performances are at a mix of 17 venues from small bars to large theaters, from art galleries to restaurants and even shops, where you can see over 40 bands at different venues around the core of Reno.



Reno Is For Creatures

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We refreshed the look of Coffeebar to match their attitude. Bold, bright, yet sophisticated and refined. With such a growth taking place in the company, and a dedicated, loving fanbase - it was of upmost importance that we complete every action with strategy. Our measure twice, cut once mentality was something we were taking into account every step of the process.

Identity Exploration 

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In addition to Coffeebar’s signature orange, brown and tan color scheme, we introduced some pronounced secondary colors because coffee offers the ideology of comfort and energy of movement all at once.

Step One

Being a group of creative professionals, its only natural to be fueled by caffeine and cold brews. Coffeebar is a supplier of just that— not to mention wine, baked treats, good times and great memories with even greater friends. At the start of Summer 2017 when Coffeebar was gearing up to open their 5th location we began a partnership to achieve an enhanced social presence and build a brand new website in preparation for the much-anticipated arrival in Silicon Valley.

Creative Direction