PDDG Design Notes – November 2025

ISSUE 070

NOVEMBER 2025

November is the month when we begin casually pretending that pie is a food group and holiday snacks are a strategic choice. It’s also when everyone starts finding themselves saying, with total sincerity, “we’ll circle back after the holidays” (wink, wink).

But here at PDDG, we’re cruising through the pre-holiday rush with creativity, caffeine, and a healthy respect for the power of great design.

Speaking of great design, did you know that in November 1994, the iconic “Got Milk?” campaign snagged Adweek’s Campaign of the Year? Proof that a brilliant idea (and the right typography) can make history.

Westside Sac IRWM Website Goes Live

In late 2018, PDDG was selected to serve as the website development firm for the Westside Sacramento Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWM). Since its inception in 2010, the Westside Sacramento IRWM Coordinating Committee (CC) has successfully obtained more than $16M from state and federal sources to implement regional projects that improve water supply and water quality primarily in economically disadvantaged communities.

We originally launched a new website for Westside Sac IRWM 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://westsideirwm.com/.

GO VA Region 8 Releases TPI Report

WorkED Consulting, a PDDG strategic partner, recently completed the development of the final Talent Pathways Initiative (TPI) Report for GO Virginia Region 8 and the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development Board (SVWDB).

Authored by WorkED Consulting, this comprehensive strategic needs assessment focused on strengthening the talent pipeline for the region’s two priority industry clusters: Manufacturing and Transportation & Logistics, and represented more than 15 months of work. This project was structured around three core funding strategies to drive long-term growth: Sector-Based Training and Partnerships, Education and Training Alignment, and Engaging All Sources of Talent.

As WorkED Consulting’s strategic partner, we supported the design development of the 120-page report, including creation of a clean, professional layout, vibrant use of photography, and customized graphics and tables. Our creative team invested more than 200 hours of high-level design, production, and copyediting services to ensure the successful completion of a high-caliber final report. Click here to learn more about this important project.

Levld Heights Launches New Website

As we continue welcoming new UK-based clients to the PDDG Team, we are pleased to share the launch of the new Levld Heights website. Levld Heights is a young scaffolding company servicing commercial, industrial, residential, and specialty/niche customers throughout Greater London, Essex, and across England.

As a small startup business, Levld Heights needed a brand retouch and a fresh, inviting website presence that more accurately represented the company’s values and mission. We first worked closely with the ownership team to polish and refine the company logo, color palette, and brand elements. Our web development team then set out to build a new website that properly tells the Levld Heights story, showcases its many successfully completed projects, and provides a detailed description of the services provided and markets served. Visit the new site at https://levldheights.co.uk/.

“I cannot say enough positive things about the PDDG team. They listened to my needs and developed a welcoming and professional website that captured everything I envisioned and more,” said Aaron Smith, Owner of Levld Heights Ltd.

Adobe to Acquire Semrush for $1.9B

Adobe and Semrush Holdings, Inc. announced a definitive agreement for Adobe to acquire Semrush—an industry-leading brand visibility platform—in an all-cash deal valued at $12.00 per share, or approximately $1.9 billion in total equity value. Semrush offers a powerful suite of data-driven generative engine optimization (GEO) and search engine optimization (SEO) solutions that help marketers enhance brand visibility and expand audience reach.

Adobe continues to lead customer experience orchestration in the agentic AI era, delivering integrated solutions across content supply chain, customer engagement, and brand visibility. Today, Adobe empowers 99% of Fortune 100 companies—including The Coca-Cola Company, General Motors, and IBM—to leverage AI to transform how they operate.

Generative AI platforms are already impacting significant changes in consumer behavior, with data from Adobe Analytics showing traffic from generative AI sources to U.S. retail sites increased by 1,200% year-over-year in October.

As longtime users of a wide range of Adobe products, including Adobe Creative Cloud, we are excited to see this latest acquisition take shape.

Photo courtesy of Adobe.

UC Achieves Nobel Prize World Record

The University of California (UC) has achieved a new world record for the highest number of Nobel Prizes awarded to a single university system in a single year. Over just three days during the month of October, UC faculty secured four Nobel Prizes—more than any other institution worldwide. Including alumni, UC-affiliated scholars received a total of five awards in fields such as medicine, physics, and chemistry.

These accolades recognize groundbreaking discoveries, from advancing our understanding of the immune system to develop lifesaving treatments for diseases like cancer and multiple sclerosis, to pioneering research that laid the groundwork for quantum computing, and designing molecular materials capable of reducing airborne pollution and harvesting drinking water from desert air.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.

CLC to Compete for $1M Aspen Prize

The Aspen Institute has recognized the College of Lake County (CLC) as one of 200 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the country’s top recognition for outstanding achievement and performance among two-year colleges. Selection was based on student outcomes data such as retention, completion, transfer rates, and bachelor’s degree attainment. Launched in 2010, this is the ninth cycle of the Aspen Prize. Click here to read the full press release.

Congratulations to CLC! We are grateful to support CLC’s important work via our ongoing marketing communications services for the Lake County Workforce Development Board, both of whom are part of the Lake County Workforce Ecosystem.

Photo courtesy of CLC.

EDAWN and LVGEA Launch NEDA

The Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN) and the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA) are partnering to launch the Nevada Economic Developers Association, or NEDA, a statewide professional association dedicated to strengthening and supporting economic development professionals across Nevada.

NEDA will serve as a central resource for training, certification, and professional development, preparing current and future practitioners to support Nevada’s long-term economic growth. The association will also provide education for government leaders, nonprofit partners, and elected officials to ensure they are equipped to help attract businesses, support workforce development, and encourage investment in communities statewide.

We are currently providing LVGEA with various marketing communications services, and we look forward to subsequently supporting the launch of NEDA.

Photo courtesy of State of Nevada.

2025 Digital Cities Survey Awards

The Center for Digital Government (CDG) announced the winners of the 2025 Digital Cities Survey Awards. This annual survey and awards program honors cities that are elevating government innovation to new heights. From San José’s responsible use of AI to Tamarac’s Smart Parks initiative, this year’s recipients showcase how technology is being translated into public trust, measurable impact, and stronger communities.

We’re excited to see several of our clients receive this well-deserved recognition. Congrats to #6 Mesa, AZ (population 500,000+), #4 Chandler, AZ and #6 Gilbert, AZ (population 250,000-499,999), and #1 Scottsdale, AZ and #3 Bellevue, WA (population 125,000-249,999).

Photo courtesy of CDG.

Bristol Earns Spot on Lonely Planet List

Bristol is the only UK destination to earn a spot on Lonely Planet’s prestigious Best in Travel 2026 list. Celebrated worldwide for its bold street art, thanks in large part to Banksy’s recognisable influence, buzzing cultural energy, and unmistakable West Country character, Bristol has been named one of the planet’s top 50 places to visit in 2026, cementing its reputation as a must-see British city in its own right.

Lonely Planet’s choice shines a spotlight on Bristol, applauding its world-famous street art scene as a key reason for its inclusion. From the historic harbourside to its colourful, mural-filled neighbourhoods, more than 250 artworks brighten the city—featuring creations by local icon Banksy and countless artists who gather for Upfest, Europe’s largest graffiti festival. Together, they turn Bristol into an open-air gallery that draws international acclaim and offers visitors the perfect setting to experience the city’s creative soul.

Located about three hours west of London, our UK Team has spent time enjoying Bristol’s art scene as part of our travel and tourism work throughout the country.