Attracting Startups to Reno
Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN): EDAWN needed a unique and memorable tool to attract startups to Reno. We rebuilt the brand and the customer-facing system to match where the company was actually going.
Live since 2017
Creating a Memorable and Compelling Attraction Tool
Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN) operates in education & non-profit — a category that demands its own kind of attention from the brand and the buyer journey both. The work that got the company this far had earned its market share. The brand and digital surface area weren’t carrying the weight at the same level the rest of the operation was.
EDAWN needed a unique and memorable tool to attract startups to Reno. The challenge was to design a piece that not only captured the attention of startup founders but also conveyed the dynamic and supportive environment Reno offers to new businesses. The design had to be both visually striking and informative, leaving a lasting impression on potential entrepreneurs.
The brief was a system rebuild — the kind of work captured in our master frame: Designing an Illustrative and High-Impact Golden Ticket. Brand strategy, identity refresh, customer-facing experience design, and the post-launch measurement framework that lets the in-house team extend the work without us in the room.
Designing an Illustrative and High-Impact Golden Ticket
Illustrative Design
Capturing the Spirit of Innovation and Growth Commence Studio developed an illustrative design for the "Pioneers Welcome" Golden Ticket that embodies the spirit of innovation and growth.
Print Techniques
Creating a Memorable Keepsake To ensure the Golden Ticket stood out, we utilized a combination of letterpress and silkscreen duplex print techniques.
Capturing the Spirit of Innovation and Growth
Commence Studio developed an illustrative design for the "Pioneers Welcome" Golden Ticket that embodies the spirit of innovation and growth.
Creating a Memorable Keepsake
To ensure the Golden Ticket stood out, we utilized a combination of letterpress and silkscreen duplex print techniques.
Mission-led storytelling first, donate button second.
Site rebuilt around the mission narrative — beneficiary stories, program updates, and impact reporting. Donation flows live alongside, not in front of.
Donor + volunteer journey design.
Email + journey design tuned for the actual nonprofit funnel — first-time donor welcome, recurring-giving conversion, lapsed-donor reactivation.
The 'Pioneers Welcome' Golden Ticket has been an incredible asset in our efforts to attract startups to Reno. The design is stunning, and the quality of the print makes it a memorable piece that truly…
Doug Erwin, VP of Entrepreneurial Development
Numbers that matter for the engagement.
Brand and storefront, in production.
The 'Pioneers Welcome' Golden Ticket has been an incredible asset in our efforts to attract startups to Reno. The design is stunning, and the quality of the print makes it a memorable piece that truly represents the opportunities our region has to offer.
Like what you see? Let's talk about your commerce stack.
A 14-day strategic diagnostic — we audit your current stack, identify the friction worth fixing first, and ship a phased plan with sized investments. Fully credited toward an engagement if we move forward together.
What you walk away with
- ✓A measured map of every friction point in your current commerce flow
- ✓Three phased options — minimum, considered, comprehensive
- ✓Sized investments and timelines, no aspirational ranges
- ✓A clear "don't hire us if…" section. We mean it.
