Pastilla is a globally minded creative agency based in Los Angeles, building brands and digital experiences for organizations that serve the public and shape the future. From Microsoft, SAP, and VMware to CES, Metrolink, and Clean Power Alliance, clients trust us for human-centered branding, campaigns, and platforms that connect across diverse communities. In close partnership with our clients, we pair evocative storytelling with analytical thinking to design award-winning work that performs locally and scales globally.
Pastilla
Gold MemberFull-service creative agency. Building brands, campaigns & platforms for the public good.
Min. Project Budget:
$100,000+
Min. Monthly Budget:
$10,000+
11-50 Employees
7 Awards
About
- HQ
- OFFICES
-
HEADQUARTERS
- ADDRESS: 21 Miller Alley Suite 210 Pasadena, CA 91105, USA
- PHONE: 1 626 415 4480
- E-MAIL: [email protected]
Services
Digital Marketing
UX Design
Video Production
Industry Expertise
Education
Sector Expertise
- K-12 Schools
- Corporate Training
Energy
Sector Expertise
- Solar Energy
- Energy Efficiency
- Energy Storage
- Energy Utilities
- Energy Equipments
- Energy Retail
- Wind Energy
- Smart Grid Technology
- Renewable Energy
Government
Healthcare
Sector Expertise
- Medical Devices
- Biotechnology
- Hospitals & Health Systems
IT & Technology
Sector Expertise
- Mobile Apps
- IT Services & Consulting
- Social Networks
- Software Development
Nonprofit
Sector Expertise
- Education
- Arts & Culture
- Charities
- Community Foundations
- Youth Development
- Environmental Conservation
- Disability Services
- Civil Society Organizations (CSO)
- Advocacy & Public Policy
Sports
Sector Expertise
- Youth Sports Organizations
- Sports Venues & Facilities
- Sports Events & Tournaments
- Adaptive Sports
- Amateur Sports Organizations
Travel & Tourism
Sector Expertise
- Transportation Providers
- Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs)
- Sustainable Travel
Clients
City of LA Recreation & Parks
Black Girls Code
Sacramento Public Library
CES
Clean Power Alliance
Microsoft
California CASA
SAP
Metrolink
See All (11)
Budgets
Min. project budget
$100,000+
Min. monthly budget
$10,000+
Awards
- GDUSA Gold Winner Category - Brand & Identity Programs 2025
- GDUSA Gold Winner Category - Motion 2025
- Anthem Awards Silver Winner Category - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 2025
- Anthem Awards Bronze Winner Category - Humanitarian Action & Services category 2024
- Marcom Awards Gold Winner Category - Strategic Communications, Marketing/Promotion Campaign, 145c. Branding 2022
- Marcom Awards Platinum Winner Category - Print Media, Marketing – Ads, 14c. Advertising Campaign 2022
- Inc. 5000 A list featuring the top 5,000 most successful and thriving private companies throughout the U.S. 2022
→
Platform Expertise
Case Studies
Designing a Campaign for Clean Energy Awareness
Designing a Campaign for Clean Energy Awareness
Pastilla
Overview
Clean Power Alliance (CPA) is one of the largest green energy providers in the country, yet many customers were unaware they were enrolled or eligible for its programs. Pastilla partnered with CPA to build awareness through a campaign that clarified messaging and elevated the brand’s visual identity.
The Challenge
Despite serving 38 communities, CPA’s brand recognition remained low. Many customers didn’t realize CPA was their provider, leading to missed opportunities. The goal was to increase awareness, educate users, and create a foundation for future outreach.
The Approach
We evolved CPA’s visual identity to feel more vibrant and community-focused. The lightning bolt hidden in the logo’s “A” became a defining graphic element, used to frame visuals and create a consistent, energetic brand language across all materials. Photography focused on real people and local communities, highlighting authenticity and putting people at the center of the clean energy story.
The Messaging
The campaign positioned electrification as a shared journey. Clear, empowering messaging presented CPA as a partner in progress, encouraging customers to take part in building a cleaner future through accessible, cost-saving energy options.
The System
Rather than reinventing the brand, we created a scalable foundation. The system was designed to support future campaigns, deepen engagement, and build familiarity through consistency and repetition.
The Impact
The campaign rolled out across 38 communities in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, strengthening brand recognition and increasing understanding of CPA’s programs. The refreshed identity was adopted across all channels, helping CPA better connect with its audience and reinforce its role in advancing clean energy.
Client: Clean Power Alliance
Industry: Energy
Sector Expertise: Renewable Energy
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Services
Branding
Creative
Email Marketing
Web Development
Completed: Jul 2026
California CASA "Show Up” Campaign
California CASA "Show Up” Campaign
Pastilla
Overview
Fresh off our award-winning 2024 campaign, California CASA partnered again with Pastilla and FEEE Films partnered with California CASA to create a campaign centered on a simple idea: showing up matters. A moving commercial highlights how presence can change a child’s world and position CASA volunteers as trusted mentors.
The Idea
While the 2024 campaign captured attention, many still questioned what it truly means to make a difference. This campaign answered through a powerful, relatable moment: a CASA volunteer showing up and cheering at an awards ceremony, highlighting how presence can change a child’s world.
The Campaign
Together with FEEE Films, Pastilla developed a digital campaign anchored by the commercial. The message was simple: showing up matters. The work positioned CASA volunteers as reliable, trusted mentors for youth in foster care.
Impact
Showing up changes lives for foster youth and reinforces the role of CASA volunteers as a steady, supportive presence when it matters most.
Client: California CASA
Industry: Nonprofit
Sector Expertise: Advocacy & Public Policy
Location: Other Cities, USA
Services
Creative
Digital Marketing
Video Production
Completed: Aug 2025
Reimagining a Cornerstone of Community Learning
Reimagining a Cornerstone of Community Learning
Pastilla
Pastilla reimagined Sacramento Public Library’s identity to unite 28 branches under one flexible system, capturing its role as a dynamic hub for learning, discovery, and community connection while allowing each neighborhood to express its own voice.
The Challenge
How do you rebrand a place that already feels like home? For more than a million residents, the Sacramento Public Library is a lifeline of stories, curiosity, and connection. The goal was to capture that spirit in a modern identity that unites 28 branches, diverse communities, and an evolving vision of what a library can be.
The Insight
Sacramento Public Library wasn’t asking for a logo. They were asking for belonging. A way to connect every branch, program, and partnership into one system, while still allowing each neighborhood to express its own voice. We began with listening. Patrons, staff, parents, veterans, and students shared what the library means to them: safety, wonder, access, and possibility. These insights shaped a design rooted in shared experience.
The Idea
The identity started with a shift in perspective. The library is not just a place that stores knowledge, it is a place that sparks it. It empowers people to explore, discover, and grow intellectually and creatively. Books are part of the story, but not the whole story. The library is a dynamic resource hub that responds to community needs and supports lifelong learning.
The Design
The logomark reflects connection, exploration, and growth. Using negative space, it maps the pathways of learning, creating, and questioning. The geometry suggests movement and momentum, positioning the library as a portal to ideas, not a static archive. The identity was built as a flexible system, including templates, signage standards, and accessibility tools. It is coherent but adaptable, empowering each branch to apply the brand in its own context.
The Impact
The result is a unified yet flexible identity that strengthens connection across Sacramento’s communities. Today, 28 branches are connected under one visual system, with over 1,400 community members engaged in the process, delivered with full accessibility in mind.
Client: Sacramento Public Library
Industry: Government
Sector Expertise: Educational Institutions
Location: Other Cities, USA
Services
Branding
Content Marketing
Creative
Completed: Jul 2025
Empowering the Next Generation in Tech
Empowering the Next Generation in Tech
Pastilla
Pastilla reimagined Black Girls Code’s brand to reflect its evolution into a lifelong ecosystem of mentorship and leadership, creating a participatory identity that increases visibility and empowers underrepresented youth to lead in tech.
The Challenge
Black Girls Code (BGC) approached us with a bold mission: to amplify their role in equipping Black and Brown girls and gender-expansive youth to lead in tech. BGC has evolved beyond coding camps into a lifelong ecosystem of mentorship, empowerment, and leadership. The brand needed to reflect this evolution, clarify BGC’s mission, increase visibility, and resonate across students (ages 10–25), parents, educators, and donors. We needed a dynamic identity that was participatory, culturally significant, and symbolic of rewriting the tech narrative for underrepresented communities.
Our Approach
At Pastilla, we believe a brand is more than a logo. It is an emotion, a promise, and a reflection of its community. We began with an in-depth discovery phase, engaging over 230 stakeholders including students, parents, staff, and donors. This revealed key insights about BGC’s impact, audience perceptions, and opportunities for growth. Inspired by quilting, a tradition in Black culture symbolizing resilience, storytelling, and community, we developed a participatory design system where students contribute their own artwork into a collective digital quilt.
The Design
A flexible system adapts to BGC’s wide age range, with simple elements for younger audiences and more intricate motifs for older students. The graphics evolve alongside students, reflecting their journey. We chose vibrant orange to stand out, celebrating joy, optimism, and belonging. Participatory elements allow students to build the brand themselves, reinforcing its community-driven spirit.
The Launch
We unveiled the new brand at AfroTech 2024, with over 25,000 attendees. The response was electric. The visuals and participatory system captured attention and excitement, setting the stage for deeper engagement and support.
The Impact
The rebrand is reshaping how people view and engage with BGC. It increases visibility, strengthens community, and positions BGC as a leader in tech equity. Early indicators show increased engagement, partnerships, and funding opportunities, supporting long-term growth.
Why This Matters
Only 3% of the computing workforce is Black women. This rebrand is a declaration of action, challenging systemic barriers and championing representation and inclusion.
Client: Black Girls Code
Industry: Nonprofit
Sector Expertise: Youth Development
Location: San Francisco, USA
Services
Branding
Creative
Completed: Sep 2024
The Circle Identity
The Circle Identity
Pastilla
Overview
Following the rebrand of the City of Corona, Pastilla created a distinct identity for its revitalized downtown district, The Circle. The goal was to honor the city’s history while establishing a bold, welcoming brand that connects community, heritage, and future growth.
The Challenge
The brand needed to exist within the larger Corona identity while standing on its own. It had to celebrate the district’s past, attract visitors, engage residents, and support the vision of a thriving cultural and commercial hub.
The Approach
We drew inspiration from Corona’s history as the lemon capital of the world and its iconic circular race track. These elements informed a visual system that connects past and present while shaping a clear identity for the district.
The Design
A custom “C” logo references the historic raceway, paired with lemon-yellow and citrus green tones that reflect the region’s agricultural roots. Typography plays a key role, with a vintage, hand-lettered style inspired by early 20th-century race and produce advertisements. The letterform extends into a lemon branch, embedding symbolism directly into the design.
The Experience
The color palette is vibrant and optimistic, supported by photography that highlights families, community interaction, and the energy of downtown life. Additional brand lockups, including “Downtown Corona,” allow for flexible use across marketing channels.
The Impact
The brand is already active across the district’s website and marketing materials, building awareness and excitement ahead of ongoing development. It has received positive feedback from stakeholders and residents, providing a scalable foundation that will evolve alongside The Circle.
Client: City of Corona
Industry: Government
Sector Expertise: Municipalities
Location: , USA
Services
Branding
Creative
Completed: Jul 2024
California CASA: “Just by Being You” Campaign
California CASA: “Just by Being You” Campaign
Pastilla
Overview
In the realm of child advocacy, California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (California CASA) stands as a beacon of hope for thousands of foster children across the state. With a visionary goal of providing a CASA volunteer for every child in need, California CASA’s mission is clear: to ensure that the voices of vulnerable children are heard in the courts and beyond. However, reaching this ambitious goal requires more than just dedication—it necessitates innovative and inclusive marketing strategies that resonate with diverse communities.
The Approach
Having successfully collaborated with California CASA, our marketing agency understands the importance of crafting campaigns that not only raise awareness but also drive action within communities across the state. Pastilla created inspiring banner assets and a touching promotional video to motivate potential volunteers. We also developed a ‘CASA-in-a-Kit’ with visuals, messaging, and brochures to unify peer-to-peer marketing efforts.
The Impact
Pastilla’s campaign strategy helped increase monthly volunteer leads by 344% since its April 24 launch, resulting in a record-breaking 964 volunteer leads in June. Our outreach and storytelling drove wide support for a diverse advocacy network, with 60% of new leads this fiscal year being BIPOC.
Client: California CASA
Industry: Nonprofit
Sector Expertise: Advocacy & Public Policy
Location: Other Cities, USA
Services
Creative
Digital Marketing
Online Advertising
Completed: Apr 2024
New Website for The Golden Globes
New Website for The Golden Globes
Pastilla
Overview
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) partnered with Pastilla to redesign and develop the Golden Globes website, creating a more engaging digital experience for a global audience. The goal was to better reflect the organization’s identity while improving usability across devices.
The Challenge
The existing site needed a complete overhaul to better engage users and support evolving content needs. With over 60% of traffic coming from mobile, the experience had to be modern, intuitive, and optimized for accessibility across all screen sizes.
The Approach
Working closely with the HFPA’s digital content team, we developed a data-driven strategy from discovery through implementation. The focus was on creating a user-centered experience that aligns with the Golden Globes’ role as both an awards platform and a publishing enterprise.
The Design
The new design introduced a minimal black aesthetic that reflects the brand’s timeless and cinematic identity. A mobile-first approach guided the content hierarchy and layout, ensuring a seamless experience across mobile and desktop. Every page was reimagined to support engagement and clarity.
The Experience
The site’s functionality was enhanced with an improved search system featuring filters and trending content, new profile pages with award history and related content, and interactive components for live events. A new Awards Database transformed the site into a searchable hub for past winners and nominees.
The Impact
The redesigned platform elevated the Golden Globes’ digital presence, making its content more accessible and engaging. The site supports live experiences, improves navigation, and reinforces the organization’s identity as a modern, content-driven platform. The work was recognized with a W3 Gold Award and a Communication Arts Shortlist in 2022.
Client: Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s
Industry: Entertainment
Sector Expertise: Film Production
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Services
UX Design
Web Design
Web Development
Completed: Jul 2023
Rebrand for the City of Corona
Rebrand for the City of Corona
Pastilla
Overview
The City of Corona, with over a century of heritage, sought to revitalize its brand to better reflect its community’s strength and values. Pastilla partnered with the city to create an engaging identity that unifies neighborhoods, supports ongoing improvements, and honors its strong community spirit.
The Challenge
As Corona aligned with a new strategic vision plan, the goal was to develop a brand that reflects its growing economy, expanding areas, infrastructure, and amenities. The identity needed to resonate with employees, residents, prospective residents, and visitors.
The Approach
Pastilla conducted research and engaged over 2,200 employees and residents to understand the community. These insights shaped a brand centered on family values and the message “You Belong Here,” creating a sense of belonging and connection.
The Design
The refreshed identity features a simplified logo incorporating the town circle, crown, and mountains, reflecting Corona’s heritage and future vision. A curated color palette and modern classic typeface, inspired by the city’s citrus heritage, express vibrancy and community spirit. The logomark and illustrative seal together tell the city’s story from its origins to today.
The Impact
The brand refresh increased satisfaction and brought renewed enthusiasm and optimism to the community. It created a unified, modern identity that residents can relate to and embrace, while positioning Corona as a city of growth. The success also led to continued partnerships on downtown branding and the branding of police and fire departments.
Client: City of Corona
Industry: Government
Sector Expertise: Municipalities
Location: Other Cities, USA
Services
Branding
Creative
Completed: May 2023
PlayLA: Olympic Youth Sports for All
PlayLA: Olympic Youth Sports for All
Pastilla
Overview
PlayLA is a radically inclusive athletic movement designed to expand access to youth sports across Los Angeles. Led by a collaboration between the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the City of LA Department of Recreation & Parks, and Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office, the program removes economic barriers and creates opportunities for kids of all abilities to participate in sports locally.
The Challenge
LA Parks partnered with Pastilla to create a name, brand strategy, and visual identity that could carry Olympic-level ambition while resonating locally. The brand needed to unite a large network of recreation centers and reflect inclusivity, energy, and community across diverse neighborhoods.
The Approach
We engaged with 123 recreation centers and 450 parks to understand the communities they serve. These insights shaped a brand that positions PlayLA as more than a program, but as a new model for how cities support youth sports, health, and equity.
The Idea
PlayLA is not just about sports, but about access, confidence, and belonging. Built as part of the Olympic legacy, the brand reflects a movement that connects local communities to a global stage, inspiring the next generation of athletes.
The Design
The identity draws from LA’s vibrant culture, using bold colors, expressive illustrations, and a dynamic icon system representing Olympic and Paralympic sports. Movement and direction in the design symbolize unity, progress, and shared momentum toward 2028.
The Naming & Messaging
We explored 375 names, with PlayLA emerging as a clear, inclusive choice. The tagline “We’re All In!” reinforces collective participation and aligns with the spirit of the Games, connecting communities through a shared vision of health and opportunity.
The Impact
The result is a scalable brand system that brings Olympic energy into everyday life, helping position PlayLA as a long-term legacy initiative that expands access to sports and builds stronger, more connected communities.
Client: City of LA Recreation & Parks
Industry: Sports
Sector Expertise: Youth Sports Organizations
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Services
Branding
Creative
Completed: Nov 2022
A Platform for Community Tree Planting
A Platform for Community Tree Planting
Pastilla
Overview
In Los Angeles, lower-income neighborhoods have less than 10% tree canopy coverage compared to 40% in more affluent areas. For communities like Watts, this creates serious challenges, including extreme heat. Pastilla partnered with the Housing Authority of Los Angeles and the Watts Rising Collaborative to create a digital tool that addresses environmental inequity while empowering residents.
The Challenge
Residents in Watts face the impact of limited green space and extreme heat, with fewer resources available to support community-driven solutions. The goal was to create a platform that encourages participation while helping the Housing Authority better understand and respond to community needs.
The Approach
Empathy and listening guided the discovery process. By working closely with those on the ground, we identified what motivates residents to take action. These insights informed a site map built around simple actions that can lead to meaningful change.
The Solution
We developed the Tree Dedication Platform, a digital tool that connects residents to local tree planting initiatives. With a simple mobile experience, users can dedicate a tree in honor of a loved one, turning each planting into a personal and community-driven act.
The Experience
A live map tracks tree planting efforts in real time, providing valuable data to support resource allocation and long-term planning. The platform also includes profile features that allow residents to share stories and celebrate their community through each tree dedication.
The Impact
The platform supports efforts to increase green space in Watts while giving residents a meaningful way to participate. Each tree planted contributes to both environmental improvement and the creation of lasting community connections.
Client: Watts Rising Tree Dedication
Industry: Nonprofit
Sector Expertise: Environmental Conservation
Location: Los Angeles, USA
Services
Creative
Digital Strategy
UX Design
Web Design
Web Development
Completed: Oct 2022
Marketing Glendale’s Biggest Tech Event
Marketing Glendale’s Biggest Tech Event
Pastilla
Overview
Since 2019, the City of Glendale has hosted Glendale Tech Week, one of the most relevant tech events in Southern California. The event brings together companies, entrepreneurs, and tech enthusiasts to explore industry trends, connect, and share ideas.
The Challenge
From the first edition, Pastilla partnered with the City of Glendale Economic Development Division to lead marketing, creative, and design efforts to drive attendance. Over time, the project faced evolving challenges, including shifts in digital marketing behavior and the need to adapt communication across both virtual and in-person event formats.
The Approach
Pastilla designed and executed marketing strategies and creative assets tailored to each event edition. Our goal was to engage target audiences and respond to changing consumer behavior, including the growing shift toward online activity and remote participation.
The Execution
Across multiple years, we delivered integrated marketing campaigns supported by design and creative services. Each campaign was adapted to the event’s format and audience needs, ensuring consistent engagement and visibility while maintaining alignment with attendance goals.
The Impact
Our strategies consistently met or exceeded KPI targets across all editions. From 2021 to 2022, click-through rates on Google conversion campaigns increased by 2.8%, conversion costs decreased by 41%, and cost-per-click on social campaigns dropped by 34%. In 2022, the campaign achieved 100% of its lead generation goals.
Client: City of Glendale
Industry: Government
Sector Expertise: Economic Development Agencies
Location: Other Cities, USA
Services
Creative
Digital Marketing
Digital Strategy
Online Advertising
Social Media Marketing
Completed: Oct 2021
Designing a Brand for Medical Innovation
Designing a Brand for Medical Innovation
Pastilla
Overview
Medical Technology Associates II, a biotechnology company, partnered with Pastilla to create a new brand and website for its hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier solution. The technology is advancing through FDA approvals for use in traumatic blood loss, organ transplants, and veterinarian services.
The Challenge
MTA2 needed a brand for a new and complex healthcare solution addressing oxygen deprivation. The identity had to meet FDA compliance requirements while remaining accessible and understandable to a non-medical audience.
The Approach
Pastilla developed the name 8BioMed and a brand strategy that reflects the innovation behind the technology. The name is rooted in the number 8, representing the atomic number for oxygen and symbolizing cultural significance in regions where the company operates.
The Design
The identity uses a blue color palette, fluid textures, and wireframe elements to represent the flow of oxygen through the body’s vital organs. These elements create a visual language that connects the science behind the product with a clear and approachable design system.
The Solution
Working closely with MTA2, we created a complete brand identity from concept to deployment. This included the name, logo, identity system, and a responsive website designed to communicate the technology and attract stakeholders and investors.
The Impact
The result is an FDA-compliant and visually approachable brand that clearly represents 8BioMed’s innovative healthcare technology, supporting its positioning with stakeholders, investors, and broader audiences.
Client: 8BioMed
Industry: Healthcare
Sector Expertise: Biotechnology
Location: Other Cities, USA
Services
Branding
Creative
Completed: May 2020
Launching Microsoft Surface Through Street Art
Launching Microsoft Surface Through Street Art
Pastilla
Overview
As Microsoft prepared to launch its first hardware product, the Surface tablet, the goal was to establish credibility in a competitive market. Pastilla partnered with Microsoft to introduce the product in a way that would capture attention and build anticipation on a global scale.
The Challenge
Microsoft needed to signal its entry into the tablet space and position Surface as an innovative product. The campaign had to generate excitement and stand out in a crowded market while reaching a global audience.
The Approach
Pastilla developed a strategy focused on curiosity and discovery. Inspired by street art, the campaign aimed to create buzz through unexpected, evolving visuals that would capture attention in public spaces.
The Execution
The campaign began with minimal graphic elements appearing overnight on buildings and sidewalks. Each week, new visual components were added, gradually revealing more of the design, including the Surface keyboard and eventually the Microsoft logo.
The Impact
The campaign generated global buzz and went viral, creating strong anticipation for the product launch. The first batch of Surface tablets sold out in the U.S., marking Microsoft’s successful entry into the hardware market. The work was recognized with multiple design awards.
Client: Microsoft
Industry: IT & Technology
Sector Expertise: Consumer Electronics
Location: Seattle, USA
Services
Branding
Creative
Video Production
Completed: Dec 2014
SAP: The Power To Be Yourself
SAP: The Power To Be Yourself
Pastilla
Overview
SAP’s Global Employer Branding team partnered with Pastilla to refresh its employer brand and attract millennials, with a focus on inspiring more women to join the company. The goal was to create a distinctive and engaging campaign that would resonate with early-career audiences.
The Challenge
SAP needed a creative approach that would stand out and connect with a younger generation of candidates, while communicating its employer brand in a way that feels relevant and motivating.
The Approach
Pastilla led the full creative process, including story development, writing, directing, illustration, and animation. The concept was built around an 8-bit arcade-style video game to capture attention and create a nostalgic yet modern experience.
The Execution
The animated film brought the concept to life through a unique visual style and storytelling approach designed to engage early graduates and communicate SAP’s message in a memorable way.
The Impact
The campaign drove strong results, increasing candidate motivation to apply and generating a surge in applications. It resulted in 50,000 new applications and 500 new candidates, supporting SAP’s employer branding goals.
Client: SAP
Industry: IT & Technology
Sector Expertise: Software Development
Location: , USA
Services
Video Production
Completed: Sep 2014
MORE