From the Main Stage to Monday Morning

Complete College America

Deliverables

Event theme as org strategy.

Executed through messaging, design and activations.

Website

https://completecollege.org/

overview

Designing for Activation

Complete College America (CCA) leads a national alliance of states, systems, and institutions working to transform higher education so more students finish what they start. Its annual convening brings that alliance together to set the agenda for the year ahead. For 5 years, CCA has partnered with Friday to shape the details that make the convening come alive, from the convening’s theme and event messaging to its interactive experiences and branded swag.

Each year, CCA’s convening brings together hundreds of leaders from states, systems, and institutions, many working in very different political and funding contexts. It’s the alliance’s biggest moment to rally around what comes next. Located in a new city and leading with a new strategic focus, every year has to feel fresh while advancing CCA’s long-term agenda.

CCA’s convening isn’t measured by what attendees hear in the room. It’s measured by what they start back home. Leaders arrive already working overtime and navigating layers of approval, so the convening has to do two jobs at once: break enough ground to spark ideas, and reflect enough reality to be actionable on Monday.

To design for both inspiration and practicality, Friday develops several theme directions, each pairing a name and visual identity with ideas for bringing it to life. The final direction becomes the throughline for everything from the event page to the main stage. Interactive experiences, from a gallery walk of member stories to a workbook ending in a personal pledge, turn big ideas into first steps.

overview

Designing for Activation

Complete College America (CCA) leads a national alliance of states, systems, and institutions working to transform higher education so more students finish what they start. Its annual convening brings that alliance together to set the agenda for the year ahead. For 5 years, CCA has partnered with Friday to shape the details that make the convening come alive, from the convening’s theme and event messaging to its interactive experiences and branded swag.

challenge

Each year, CCA’s convening brings together hundreds of leaders from states, systems, and institutions, many working in very different political and funding contexts. It’s the alliance’s biggest moment to rally around what comes next. Located in a new city and leading with a new strategic focus, every year has to feel fresh while advancing CCA’s long-term agenda.

insight

CCA’s convening isn’t measured by what attendees hear in the room. It’s measured by what they start back home. Leaders arrive already working overtime and navigating layers of approval, so the convening has to do two jobs at once: break enough ground to spark ideas, and reflect enough reality to be actionable on Monday.

solution

To design for both inspiration and practicality, Friday develops several theme directions, each pairing a name and visual identity with ideas for bringing it to life. The final direction becomes the throughline for everything from the event page to the main stage. Interactive experiences, from a gallery walk of member stories to a workbook ending in a personal pledge, turn big ideas into first steps.

No items found.

related case Studies

JobsFirst

How a hyper-local brand became the foundation for a national movement.

‍

Institute for Learning

Deep expertise isn’t enough to meet sales goals. Friday helped IFL build a sustainable sales and marketing system plus the tools to operate it.

Spartanburg Academic Movement

Everyone could explain their own thread. The tapestry was another story.

Turn Purpose Into Power

Leave an unforgettable mark. Make an unbelievable impact.