Behind the Branding of The Bloc’s 50 OVER 50 Nebraska Celebration
When Dina Becirovic from The Bloc called, I knew whatever she had brewing was going to be big, but I didn’t know just how much heart it would take. She said, “We’re celebrating 50 leaders over 50 across Nebraska, and we want to do it right.” That meant not just listing names or passing out awards. That meant telling stories. That meant building something rooted in pride, in place, in people.
So we got to work.
Lozafina has been working with The Bloc since the inception of the 50 Over 50 Nebraska Awards Ceremony.
From the start, this wasn’t just an event. It was a full-on branding campaign. One that started with deep respect for the people being honored and a strong visual identity to carry that spirit through every touchpoint.
We’ve relished each year as the program gets larger, more detailed, and extravagant. Now in its fifth year, we’re pleased at how the legacy branding has come together. This year, we designed a 72-page commemorative booklet that listed all 50 award recipients, complete with bios, portraits, and storytelling that brought each person’s journey to life. This wasn’t a quick program handed out at the door. It was a keepsake. A printed love letter to legacy.
Visually, we wanted Nebraska to shine through. We used overlays of iconic Nebraska imagery, from the rolling Sandhills to the Omaha skyline, blending textures and tones to create a backdrop that felt as expansive and grounded as the honorees themselves. Our color palette leaned into warm navy and charcoals, soft golds, and a dusty blue that gave everything a cohesive, elevated feel. These design elements showed up everywhere: in the booklet, in the event signage, in the slide deck that guided the evening’s flow. Every detail mattered. Here’s a breakdown of our campaign package.
The 72‑page booklet: honoring each honoree with care
We knew we couldn’t simply list names. For the 50 honorees, from seasoned civic leaders to change‑makers across Nebraska, we created a printed booklet that included full bios, portraits, program information, and thematic content. Every recipient’s story was given space to breathe. The layout paired clean typography with open white space. We used photographic portraits, pulled‑quotes, and short profiles.
Social media campaign: building momentum, telling stories
We rolled out the campaign in phases:
Teaser posts: “Coming soon: 50 NE leaders you should know.”
Honoree spotlights: Each day, we shared a graphic featuring one honoree’s portrait, a signature quote, and a #50OVER50NE tag. The visual tied back to the Nebraska overlay motif, so the feed felt cohesive.
Stories & reels: Short behind‑the‑scenes clips of the booklet being printed, the team prepping the event space, honorees arriving, etc.
Countdown and call‑to‑action: As the event date approached, we used countdown posts (“3 days until we celebrate legacy”) and pushed for ticketing/sponsorship via The Bloc’s channels.
Post‑event wrap‑up: We shared highlights, quotes from honorees, photos with the community, and pushed to tag the honorees for shareability.
This campaign allowed attendees, sponsors, and the wider community to engage ahead of time, feel invested, and carry the energy beyond the night of the event.
Slide deck: for sponsors, event flow, and storytelling
Another major piece was the slide deck. This served multiple audiences:
Sponsors: We created a sponsor‑deck version that outlined event goals, brand alignment (including our Nebraska‑rooted visuals), demographics, recognition benefits, and sponsorship tiers.
Event flow: A separate deck guided the emcee, projected visuals on‐site (honoree names, categories, sponsor logos), and kept the program aligned.
Honoree introduction: Each honoree got a “hero slide” in the presentation: portrait + one‑line descriptor + category banner.
Visually, the deck echoed the booklet and social branding: same font families, same overlay treatments, consistent color palette. This allowed the in‑room experience and digital experience to mirror each other.
Why it worked — and what the team learned
Consistency matters: From booklet to social to slide deck, using one visual system built recognition and trust.
Telling real stories: Turning honoree bios into human profiles (not just “X years in service”) created emotional impact.
Community roots = authenticity: By visually referencing Nebraska landscapes and culture, the brand felt relevant and grounded—not generic.
Collaborative trust: Dina’s openness and The Bloc’s commitment allowed us to experiment and iterate, which elevated the final result.
Print still matters: In an age of digital everything, having a tangible booklet validated the event’s significance and gave honorees something they could hold and share.
Thank you, Dina & The Bloc team
To Dina at The Bloc: thank you for the challenge, for trusting us with your vision, and for partnering in a way that honored community, leadership, and place. To the whole The Bloc staff: thank you for your collaboration, your insight into the honorees, and your dedication to celebrating Nebraska’s seasoned leaders.