How We Stress-Tested Our Branding Process—And Won

What happens when your client changes direction mid-sprint? We found out—on purpose. Ticketro was a brand experiment designed to sharpen our skills and simulate the real-world twists that come with startup branding.

Ticketro wasn’t a living, breathing client—it was part of an internal series of side projects geared toward refining our skills and processes while creating designs that showcased impact and value. The goal was to simulate a fast-paced brand sprint for a fictional NFT ticketing platform and see how far we could push our creative process in under two weeks.

Everything from the brand brief to the curveball change in direction mid-project was intentionally designed to mimic client dynamics. And like real-world projects, we delivered a complete brand system, digital mockups, and design application that brought the brand to life. Ticketro helped us test how we adapt, refine, and execute—especially when the unexpected hits mid-sprint.

The Challenge

We set up Ticketro to feel like a real-world engagement:

A startup looking to disrupt an outdated system (Ticketmaster), appeal to mainstream users and make NFTs feel usable, not intimidating. Our target audience included tech-savvy event attendees (millennials and GenZ) familiar with the Web3 space and early adopter event organizers open to new ticketing solutions that are more transparent, fair, and eliminate fraud.

Our brand had to meet three core expectations:

  • Security & Authenticity – Make blockchain-backed access feel trustworthy and legit
  • Empowered Community – Give organizers and attendees more control
  • Seamless Experience – Make it intuitive for the everyday user


The twist? Midway through the sprint, our “client” rejected the logo direction they initially approved—and asked us to pivot.

This forced our team to hit pause, regroup, and reroute—just like we would in a real-world sprint when client feedback shifts unexpectedly.

Our Solution

We built a sharp, clean, dynamic brand system rooted in three key attributes: secure, transparent, and dynamic. The design was made to feel modern and familiar—blending a tech-forward aesthetic with human-centered simplicity.

Our final deliverables included:

  • A complete logo system with alternates and icons
  • Flexible type and color palette
  • Sample ticket and NFT visuals
  • Marketing and brand application mockups
  • Landing page hero design

The brand had to feel mainstream-ready, built on innovative tech, and, focus on Ticketro’s target audience and potential investors.

The Process

We followed our proven 5-step brand sprint structure:

  1. Research – Mapping the NFT ticketing landscape and identifying gaps
  2. Discovery – Mood boarding a visual language of modern trust and tech-forward transparency
  3. Exploration – Developing initial logo systems, colors, type, and visual assets
  4. Refinement – Midway pivot to an alternate logo concept after a creative change of heart from our simulated client
  5. Final Delivery – Wrapping with a complete brand system including logo, color palette, type, ticket mockups, and a sample landing experience

The Outcome

This project wasn’t about client feedback—it was about team adaptability. It taught us how to manage curveballs, make smart creative pivots under pressure, and stick the landing. This was the second time we put our branding process to the test with one of our side projects. This experience pushed us to make the brand sprint feel genuine from start to finish. Projects like Ticketro help us grow and improve. Outside of paid client work, they sharpen our skills and keep our creativity alive.