Role:
lead designer &
art director—
brand identity, launch activation
lead designer &
art director—
brand identity, launch activation
As their field matured, Big Nerd Ranch’s work had drifted away from their original offering of coding bootcamps. They’d developed a reputation as an engineering firm for some of tech’s most innovative players.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d533c5e8a0257c689f3bd3db374280fc239035ce2eceb8aef7b0d2489062894a/12_BNR_2000.jpg)
Through a full-scale strategy, we helped them uncover a single core purpose that applied as both a training organization and a development firm—
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a4487334b554081a0ce2284509ea2c5268bcc92edd099af54c56c29fa0903e3e/16_BNR_2000.png)
To match their new position, our team at Matchstic embarked on an ambitious refresh of Big Nerd Ranch’s brand, developing a bold and warm look that would feel at home on the ranch and serve the intricacy of their innovative work.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/33ac91b88785320cd0855290d3bf88fd75031e02c4ee5b91d88472e15e579cec/07_BNR_2000.jpg)
We were careful to incorporate elements from their legacy visuals, including their well-loved logo: a cowboy hat topped with a propeller. Pulling the propeller shape into the brim of the hat, we were able to signal both Big Nerd Ranch’s process of infinite reimagining and their ability to propel clients forward.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/54ebfadee9e0a8d0c4b4115e96f5c791b2ef6bf66be4cbd75756305d942d07cc/14_BNR_2000.png)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4f48c4bd2fe882d2d8a05aac2f4e9279a598323d54823e32d11ee2f127d74e72/08_BNR_2000.jpg)
To complete the look, we paired Big Nerd’s new hat with a color palette filled with organic hues, trading ubiquitous digital black for earthy browns.
We chose some well-wrought typefaces and a photography style that focused on the end users of Big Nerd Ranch’s work, stressing human experiences over technical imagery.
We chose some well-wrought typefaces and a photography style that focused on the end users of Big Nerd Ranch’s work, stressing human experiences over technical imagery.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a04c68f54c2a67ffeeae3f15fd24210e423222a0473336360c7c9364b737cab8/15_BNR.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a09e9f2cdccd06d9e530818da263eb525b4b340ac9e76fb69d04cc48741c3aad/03_BNR_2000.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/128e7e3402563ba13341dbbbfd724baf1e79253d1364ca4c8fe33a90062b7e4f/10_BNR_2000.jpg)
Their new print pieces use wide-open layouts, embodying ranch-like open terrain and unbound possibility.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dbb7df9bb8d1ddadf345f895007dd512e0ae1ec0ebbbe4da35ab3fbbd964f60a/06_BNR_2000.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/21f33ce4027c44486a1249e92824db86c6459be4a0a6353d4c56a5db10386cf5/04_BNR_2000.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/014e3e89cef06295b714c3d981938028b0e8f6bf71c38b13aecedc3d800e3310/05_BNR_2000.jpg)
Knowing that we were creating a brand for an organization filled with tinkerers, coders, and designers, we built a foundation for future growth. It’s jam-packed with swagger, in-jokes, and potential. We can’t wait to see where our partners take it.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4f777e78abe1c27086b9acdc84496835a21beb48a334011674b175ce70b16e09/11_BNR_2000.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/568d6d51f25d2baffd7ceac4724dc7a714f1f82ac65d07d5c1b7777cbbeaeadd/03_BNR_3000.gif)
Credits —
Brand Identity © 2018-19
Role: Design Lead & Creative Direction
Designers: Jason Combs & Nathan Young, with logo support from Todd Durkee & Meghan Stewart
Strategists: Sarah Melnyk, Devin Bambrick
Writers: Devin Bambrick, Jason Combs
Project Manager: Maggie Philpotts
Studio: Matchstic
Client: Big Nerd Ranch
Brand Identity © 2018-19
Role: Design Lead & Creative Direction
Designers: Jason Combs & Nathan Young, with logo support from Todd Durkee & Meghan Stewart
Strategists: Sarah Melnyk, Devin Bambrick
Writers: Devin Bambrick, Jason Combs
Project Manager: Maggie Philpotts
Studio: Matchstic
Client: Big Nerd Ranch