Industry
Look & Vibe
Clear
Approachable
Unified
Location
Lincoln | NE
The PanhandleDevelopment District
What They Wanted to Achieve:
- Shift perception from a behind-the-scenes agency to a visible, trusted regional resource
- Modernize an outdated brand while still feeling rooted in community warmth and trust
- Balance professional credibility with approachable, people-first messaging
- Turn the website into a go-to resource for tracking projects, finding information, and connecting to community partner resources
The logodesign
PADD’s primary mark reflects the region it serves — modern, structured, and deeply rooted in place. The icon incorporates the outline of Nebraska’s Panhandle, with surrounding shapes that align around a central point, representing PADD’s role as a hub of coordination and connection for communities and partners across the region.
The surrounding shapes work together within the state outline, reinforcing the ideas of alignment, collaboration, and regional support, while keeping the overall look professional and structured.
Before& after
PADD serves as the primary economic development and planning resource for Nebraska’s Panhandle, connecting eleven counties to funding, grant writing, business lending, and housing support. After decades of working largely behind the scenes, the organization needed a brand and website that could finally reflect its role as a trusted, visible resource for the region.
Brittany from Downey Strategy led the messaging and content strategy, while Sierra built a brand that balances professional credibility with the warmth and connection PADD’s communities value most. Artillery built a streamlined website that makes it easy for businesses, communities, and partners to find funding programs, track projects, and access regional resources. We reduced clutter and used clear, strategic design to help the most important information stand out naturally. The result is an approachable, modern experience that finally gives PADD the visibility it has earned.
