PDDG Design Notes – December 2025

ISSUE 071

DECEMBER 2025

HO HO…hold on one minute, is it really already the end of 2025?

We can’t believe December is here, but as the saying goes, time flies when you’re having fun. In this season of celebration, reflection, and gratitude, we at PDDG want to pause and say thank you. Thank you for the trust you place in our team, the collaboration you bring to every project, and the opportunity to help tell your story.

This month’s work highlights what is possible when strong partnerships and creative strategy come together. From marketing and communications to design and web development, we are proud of what we have built alongside our clients and partners.

As we close out the year, we are grateful for your continued support and excited for what lies ahead. We wish you a wonderful holiday season filled with joy and rest, and we look forward to creating even more meaningful work together in the new year.

Elevating an Annual Banquet by Design

For NeighborWorks Waco’s Annual Breakfast Banquet, PDDG partnered closely with the team to help bring their story to life in a way that felt cohesive, engaging, and mission-driven. From the outset, the goal was to ensure every visual element supported the organization’s message and reflected the importance of the event. PDDG designed and produced the Annual Report, creating a piece that not only shared impact data but also served as a compelling storytelling tool for attendees and stakeholders.

In addition, our team developed the banquet’s visual environment, including presentation decks, table décor, and video chyrons, ensuring a consistent look and feel throughout the event. By aligning print, digital, and on-screen elements, PDDG helped create a seamless experience that elevated the program and allowed NeighborWorks Waco to focus on what mattered most: celebrating community impact, honoring partners, and advancing their mission.

Solano GSP Website Goes Live

In late 2018, PDDG was selected to serve as the website development firm for the Solano Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan (Solano GSP). The Solano GSP provides a detailed roadmap for the Solano Subbasin to maintain long-term groundwater sustainability and went into effect when it was submitted to the California Department of Water Resources on January 31, 2022.

We originally launched a new website for Solano GSP in early 2019 and have provided ongoing maintenance and support for the past six years. Over the last few months, we have worked closely with the client team to develop a completely refreshed, modernized website experience that offers a vastly improved navigation and site structure, better organized resource library, and makes strong use of regional imagery reflective of the agency’s impact. Additionally, we provided a more optimized site with maximum accessibility in mind.

Visit the new website at https://solanogsp.com/.

CTC Releases 2025 Annual Report

Since 2006, we have partnered with the California Transportation Commission (CTC) on the design and production of their annual report. We have just completed our latest project, the 2025 Annual Report to the California Legislature. Established in 1978, CTC is responsible for programming and allocating funds for the construction of highway, passenger rail, transit, and active transportation improvements throughout California.

Each year, our creative team works closely with CTC to design and develop an annual report and a summary document to complement the annual report. The project is highly creative and is typically completed within a relatively tight production schedule. Our team is grateful for the long-standing partnership with CTC.

View the 2025 Annual Report and Summary.

ASU Fosters Silicon Desert Talent

The Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University (ASU) is the largest and most comprehensive engineering school in the United States. In developing the facilities and necessary innovative research, ASU has been instrumental in helping Arizona attract some of the world’s top high-tech companies. Known as the “Silicon Desert,” the Phoenix Metro Area is home to more than 1,100 high-tech manufacturers and developers, with more than 100 enterprises specifically from the semiconductor manufacturing industry. Click here to learn more.

Via our marketing communications support of economic development organizations throughout the Phoenix Metro Area, we have seen firsthand the incredible impact made by ASU in shaping the future workforce and supporting the talent and innovation needs of global manufacturers. With our close and long-standing ties to the original Silicon Valley in California, it is a particularly exciting time as we watch Arizona and the Southwest redefine the future of high-tech manufacturing.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.

Joby to Double US Capacity

Joby Aviation, Inc., with headquarters in Santa Cruz, California, is in the process of developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service and has recently announced their plans to double their manufacturing capacity to reach the production goal of four aircraft per month by 2027.

This latest news arrives amid unprecedented momentum for advanced air mobility as Joby has disclosed more than $1 billion in potential aircraft and service sales. Joby completed its expanded manufacturing facility in Marina in July and confirmed the start of propeller blade production in Ohio in October. To support the growth needed to meet the 2027 manufacturing goal, Joby has already begun sourcing the necessary capital equipment and hiring the talent needed to enable its round-the-clock manufacturing operations in California. Click here to learn more.

Via our ongoing marketing communications work for both Workforce Santa Cruz County and Monterey County Works, we have supported Joby's recruiting efforts as they build their local workforce.

Photo courtesy of Joby Aviation.

Apache Junction Ranked #1 for Growth

Based on the latest estimates from the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, Apache Junction ranked #1 fastest growing city in Arizona. When looking at percentage population growth from 2024-2025, Apache Junction ranks #1 in the state at 7.9%. By comparison, Phoenix saw a year-over-year growth rate of less than 0.7%, well below the 1.3% average for the entire state, and significantly lower than that of Apache Junction.

Some of the other top performers in Arizona included Queen Creek (7.7%), Maricopa (6.7%), Marana (6.3%), Coolidge (5.7%), Buckeye (5.3%), Casa Grande (5.3%), San Luis (5.1%), Colorado City (5.0%), Goodyear (5.0%), Surprise (4.2%), and Avondale (4.0%).

Some of the contributing factors positioning Apache Junction in the top spot include: Radiance at Superstition Vistas was Arizona’s #1 top-selling master-planned community and #19 in the nation during the first half of 2025 (RCLCO), the city has a robust multi-family pipeline with 800+ units under construction, and Apache Junction has more than 14,000 vacant acres, signaling a long runway for responsible growth. Click here to learn more.

Congrats to our friends in Apache Junction for their top ranking as a highly desirable place to live.

Photo courtesy of City of Apache Junction.

City of Mesa Joins PDDG Family

We are thrilled to welcome the City of Mesa, Arizona to the PDDG Family! Our first assignment will be supporting the marketing communications needs of the city’s Economic Development Department.

As we continue expanding our reach throughout the Phoenix Metro Area and the State of Arizona, we are grateful for the continued trust placed in our team in support of local economic development, tourism, and related efforts. We look forward to our new partnership with the City of Mesa's Economic Development Department.

Arts for LA Seeking Logo Designer

Arts for LA invites Los Angeles County-based artists and graphic designers to submit proposals to create two special versions of the Arts for LA logo – one commemorating its 20th anniversary and another celebrating its 25th anniversary. This project offers a unique opportunity to shape a visual identity that honors Arts for LA’s legacy while inspiring the next chapter of its work. The total budget for this project is $2,500.

The timeline is as follows: RFP Open: December 1, 2025; Submission Deadline: January 9, 2026; Artist Selected: Mid-January 2026; Final Logos Due: March 6, 2026. Click here for details.

Photo courtesy of Arts for LA.

Sacramento Named Must-See Spot

Alongside the likes of Boston, Charleston, Chicago, and Portland, among others, the city of Sacramento has been named “One of the Best Places to go in the US in 2026” by Conde Nast Traveler.

Known as “America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital,” thanks to its deep agricultural roots, Sacramento is home to more than 1.5 million acres of farmland growing more than 160 different crops. Benefiting to this incredible access to a diverse crop offering, Sacramento has an incredible foodie/dining scene. Beyond its gastronomy, the city is also in the midst of more than $1.3B worth of expansion projects at Sacramento International Airport, the grand opening of the city’s first-ever five-star property (Hotel Eleanor), and the continued mass appeal of the city’s professional sports teams (Sacramento Kings and Athletics). Click here to read the full Conde Nast article.

We have proudly called Sacramento home to our headquarters since 1977. Over the past 48 years, we have had offices in the Old Town, Downtown, University, and Campus Commons districts of Sacramento.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.