We’re celebrating two decades of building brands, elevating small businesses, and shaping a creative community we’re proud to be part of. Join us as we look back, thank the people who helped us grow, and share what’s next. #BDGturns20
BDG Turns 20
A Celebration of Creativity, Community, and Collaboration
20 Years in the Making
20 years ago, Brkich Design Group began with a single client and a big dream: to help small businesses grow through smart design and strong storytelling. Since then, we’ve evolved into a creative team serving clients across industries and across the country—all while staying rooted in the values that started it all. This summer, we’re reflecting on the journey, honoring the people who’ve shaped it, and inviting you to celebrate with us.
20 Things That Built BDG
What does it really take to build a business that lasts? We’ve been asking ourselves that question as we look back—and the answers aren’t always what you’d expect. From late-night design sprints to leap-of-faith moments, here are 20 things—big and small—that helped shape who we are today. Here’s just a few:
- Letting gut instinct lead the way
- Celebrating wins—big and small
- Designing with purpose, not just polish
- Creating systems after way too many sticky notes
- Believing in small business magic
1.
Taking the Leap (2005)
When the creative department at Cassie’s old job was let go, she didn’t panic—she got to work. Brkich Design started in a spare room with one client, a printer, and a lot of heart. No fancy launch—just a belief that good design could make a difference.
2.
Being a Small Biz Owner 1st
We didn’t just design for small businesses—we were one (and Cassie was raised in one). That experience shaped everything: our empathy, our systems, and our commitment to making marketing more manageable for the people actually running the show.
3.
Wearing All the Hats
Designing, billing, troubleshooting, emailing, delivering proofs, picking up printing…you name it, we did it. The early years meant saying “yes” to anything and everything and figuring it out later. That scrappy mindset still drives how we serve clients today.
4.
Trusting Our Gut
Not every decision came from a spreadsheet. Some of our best leaps—like moving to Beaver or launching a new service—came from a deep sense of “this just feels right.” And over time, we learned that instinct is one of our most powerful tools.
5.
Saying Yes Too soon
From workshops to big contracts, we’ve often stepped into opportunities that felt just a little too big or not a correct fit for the team at the time. And that’s exactly how we grew—by figuring it out along the way and trusting we’d rise to the challenge.
6.
Hiring Our 1st Team Member
Letting someone else help carry the work (and the vision) was a turning point. It wasn’t just about capacity—it was about creating a collaborative energy that made everything better. That first “yes” opened the door to the team we have today. Read all about it here.
7.
Planting Roots in Beaver
Locating the business in Beaver wasn’t just a logistical choice—it was a community one. The people, the partnerships, the sense of local pride…this town shaped our story, and we’re proud to pour our talents back into it.
8.
Learning to Pivot
2020 put everything to the test. We launched local support campaigns, created COVID graphics, and taught Zoom workshops to help small businesses stay visible. We didn’t just pivot—we helped others do it, too. Wanna read more?
9.
Launching QUICKIE Packages
Clients were overwhelmed, and timelines were dragging. So we flipped the process and made it faster, easier, and more focused. Our 1-week Quick Launch and 1-Day VIP Dev packages gave clients the solutions they needed—fast.
10.
Winning Design Awards
When we won two GDUSA design awards, it was more than a pat on the back—it was a moment that validated the blend of strategy and heart that we bring to every project. It reminded us great work doesn’t have to come from a big agency.
11.
Investing in Relationships
Many of our best projects came from long-standing relationships built on trust, respect, and a little laughter along the way. We’re proud of the work—but even prouder of the people we’ve partnered with to make it happen.
12.
Saying No to the Wrong Fit
We’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that not every project is the right one. Saying no made room for the right clients—people who trust the process, value collaboration, and get excited about great design.
13.
Leaning Into Fun
We’re serious about strategy, but we also believe in laughing at ourselves, dancing through launch week, and creating work that feels joyful. When you love what you do, your clients feel it too—and we’ve always made space for that spark.
14.
Believing in Community
We’ve never been just about logos and layouts. We believe in community as a multiplier. From Underground Beaver to Rooted Locally to free campaigns for small shops, we’ve used design to rally, uplift, and bring people together.
15.
Late Nights/Early Mornings
In the early days, every polished launch meant a long night of edits, a 6am strategy session, or a weekend sprint to get it right. It wasn’t always glamorous—but that hustle built something real. Now we have systems that don’t kill us!
16.
Word-of-Mouth Wins
Our business has grown mostly through referrals—because when people feel seen, heard, and proud of their brand, they tell others. That word-of-mouth growth has been our biggest marketing win (and biggest compliment).
17.
Hiring for Heart
We’ve built a team that’s smart, talented, and most importantly—kind. We believe in hiring people who bring warmth, curiosity, and care to every project, not just technical skill. We can train for that!
18.
Evolving with Tech
We started with hand-coded websites in Dreamweaver. Today, we build sleek, user-focused WordPress sites with smart integrations and powerful design. We’ve grown with the tech—always with the user in mind.
19.
Celebrating Every Win
We’ve celebrated big launches and little breakthroughs. Whether it’s a client finally seeing their vision come to life or a quiet “we did it” moment on Slack—those wins matter. Momentum is made from them.
20.
Staying True to Our Why
Since day one, our mission has been to help small businesses dream big. That vision still guides us—every call, every logo, every website, every conversation. It’s not just what we do. It’s who we are.
20 years in and we’re just getting started.
BDG Through the Years
