Because the first round of the project was delayed, we needed to rethink our approach in order to deliver on time. Fortunately, one of the directions we had begun exploring before the pause provided a strong foundation to build from. By revisiting and repurposing that early concept, we were able to shift away from one-off creative themes, an approach that had defined past retreats, and instead focus on developing a scalable system that could carry forward into future years. A flexible identity framework emerged as the solution. It offered a consistent foundation that allowed each retreat to feel distinct while still aligning closely with the core Appfire brand. In contrast to previous themes like James Bond (2022) and Outer Space (2023), this new direction prioritized cohesion, efficiency, and long-term usability without sacrificing visual impact. This system would also allow for subtle customizations that reflect the character of the chosen venue, such as colors and patterns - a capability that proved especially valuable for the 2025 retreat in Scotland.