PDDG Design Notes – January 2026

ISSUE 072

JANUARY 2026

Happy New Year and Happy January! This time of year is all about fresh starts, bold ideas, and setting the tone for the year ahead, which feels fitting given that one of the most famous moments in advertising history happened this month. On January 22, 1984, Apple aired its now-iconic “1984” commercial during the Super Bowl, forever changing how brands think about storytelling, creativity, and the power of a really good ad.

Apple’s “1984” remains one of the most influential advertisements ever made, not just for selling a product, but for reshaping how companies tell stories.

As we kick off the new year, we’re channeling that same spirit of smart strategy and standout storytelling and design. Read on for insights and inspiration to help you start 2026 strong. Because great ideas don’t just happen. They’re designed.

Image source: Diggit Magazine

InvestTheQC Launches New Website

Since 2018, the Town of Queen Creek, Arizona has been a valued PDDG client partner. Our creative team has produced nearly 90 projects for economic development, tourism, finance, emergency services, and town-wide outreach and communications.

To coincide with the start of 2026, we recently completed a comprehensive refresh of the InvestTheQC website, Queen Creek’s economic development portal for all things business attraction and location. The website refresh includes a full visual update, reorganized menu and navigational structure, added content and insights into the town’s unique market positioning, and an overall improved user experience. Click here to view the new website.

We have had the pleasure of supporting the Town’s graphic design and marketing communications needs on a wide variety of tasks, including branding, collateral design and production, website development, signage, and digital tools for economic development, tourism, finance, and administration.

PAO Releases 2025 Annual Report

Over the past 26+ years, we have worked on various statewide energy efficiency and rebate/incentive programs overseen by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). In 2023, we expanded our partnership with the CPUC by welcoming the Public Advocates Office (PAO) to the PDDG Team.

The PAO is an independent organization within the CPUC that advocates solely on behalf of utility ratepayers to obtain the lowest possible rate for service consistent with reliable and safe service levels.

We recently completed the design and production of the PAO 2025 Annual Report, marking our third year producing this publication. The client entrusted our design team with the development of this 32-page report, complete with modern icons and infographics, unique illustrations, custom charts and tables, and full photo selection and management.

Click here to view the PAO 2025 Annual Report.

Big Ideas in a Little Brochure

The Town of Chino Valley, Arizona, who became a PDDG client partner in early 2025, was in need of an informative, well-written and designed brochure to showcase the town’s assets from a business attraction and location perspective.

Working closely with the client’s economic development team, we developed a focused 12-page “mini” brochure highlighting the town’s demographics, industries, talent, market access, available land, community assets, and tourism offering.

Chino Valley is a well-positioned community in that its small-town charm, exceptional quality of life, and affordable cost of doing business make it an attractive place to live and work. We’re excited to continue supporting the town’s economic development marketing initiatives.

Site Selection 2026 Workforce Rankings

Site Selection Magazine, a leading economic development publication, has released their 2026 workforce development rankings and North Carolina, Utah, Illinois, Michigan, and California all made the top five. The rankings rely on the Conway Projects Database to evaluate the performance of regional economic development agencies. By the same logic, any credible measure of state workforce development must assess the workforce itself—its credentials and degrees, technical skill and productivity, and, just as importantly, the return on investment it delivers to both employers and employees.

In the South Atlantic Region, North Carolina earned the top spot regionally and nationally, while Illinois earned the top spot in the East North Central Region (#3 nationally) and California earned the top spot in the Pacific Region (#5 nationally). Click here to read the full rankings.

We currently support the outreach and communications needs of numerous workforce organizations in both Illinois and California, and North Carolina is home to one of our regional offices.

Photo courtesy of Site Selection.

TfL 2026 Apprenticeship Fair

Transport for London (TfL), the integrated transport authority managing Greater London’s extensive network of buses, Underground (the Tube), Docklands Light Rail, London Overground, Elizabeth Line, roads, and so much more in the capital city, is hosting their annual Apprenticeship Fair on 9 February 2026 at Kensington Town Hall.

TfL and 20+ employers/partners will be showcasing apprenticeship opportunities across transportation, engineering, construction, and entry-level and pre-employment pathways. This in-person event does require advance registration.

With more than 30 years’ experience supporting workforce development organizations, we know firsthand the value of apprenticeships and career pathways. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals of all ages and abilities to discover new career options.

Photo courtesy of TfL.

Bulgaria Joins Euro Zone

On 1 January 2026, Bulgaria adopted the euro as its national currency, marking a significant milestone for the country, the evolution of the euro, and the European Union as a whole. This achievement follows years of intensive preparation and sustained efforts by Bulgaria to fulfill all the required criteria.

The introduction of the euro will bring tangible benefits to Bulgarian citizens and businesses. It will make traveling and living abroad easier, enhance market transparency and competitiveness, and facilitate trade. Euro banknotes and coins will also serve as a visible symbol of the freedom, convenience, and opportunities that EU membership offers to its citizens.

The European Commission has fully supported Bulgaria throughout the process of joining the euro area. With Bulgaria’s accession, 21 EU Member States and more than 357 million EU citizens will share the EU’s common currency.

In July 2025, our President and CEO had the opportunity to travel to Burgas, the second largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, as part of a tourism familiarization (FAM) tour. This visit was a welcome follow-up to an exciting and informative June 2022 FAM tour to both Burgas and Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital city.

Photo courtesy of European Commission.

PDDG Celebrates 49 Years

February 1, 2026, marks 49 years in business for PDDG! It’s truly remarkable to see how far our agency has come over nearly five decades in marketing and communications. We’re deeply grateful to our client partners and to the incredible team who make it all possible. Thank you for being part of the journey!

PDDG + CSUS = 40 Years Together

This year marks 40 years of partnership with Sacramento State (CSU Sacramento). From our very first project in 1986, developing the branding and marketing for the university’s 40th anniversary, to our current website development and support work, we have had the immense pleasure of calling Sacramento State one of our agency’s longest-standing client partnerships.

One of the highlights of our 40-year partnership came in 2018/19 when we designed the university’s new website presence. Working closely with the Information Resources & Technology Department, the scope of work was quite extensive, involving more than 2,000 hours of work. Our team was involved in every individual aspect of the website redesign process, including all project planning, scheduling, and meeting facilitation, as well as intensive creative design and development; analytics review and high-level data extrapolation; wireframe development, testing, and refinement; information architecture and content mapping; focus group participation and user testing; menu and navigational design and naming; testing and quality control; and, continuous project management and oversight.

We were thrilled to see the new university website publicly launch in July 2019. Our final design solution is still in place in the university website you see today.

Briske Named Utah Business Leader

Clint Briske, longtime friend of PDDG and husband to Mel Briske, PDDG’s Vice President of Marketing and Media Services, has been named a 2026 Leader of the Year as part of the latest Utah Business cohort. Clint is the Site Director for the Nature’s Bakery manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City. Part of the Mars Incorporated family of brands, this new $240M facility opened in July 2025 and Clint has had a key role in every aspect of bringing the new facility online, from laying out the initial plans for the bakery, to producing the first of more than 1 billion granola bars it will make in its first year.

The new Nature’s Bakery facility will bring significant growth to the company, enabling it to more than double in size from just five years ago. Additionally, the bakery will be a strong economic driver for the region, with the goal of creating 230 jobs in the Salt Lake City area, which Briske says Nature’s Bakery selected because of Utah’s “strong workforce, excellent logistics and shared values between the community and our company.”

Congratulations, Clint, on this well-deserved recognition!

Photo courtesy of Utah Business.