Case Study: Tonic Design Co. achieves a scalable, culture-first hiring program with Trakstar Hire

Tonic Design Co. - Customer Case Study

Tonic Design is a Philadelphia-based digital experience agency of about 60 people that grew from a 2014 merger of a software shop and a creative studio. Serving clients like Johnson & Johnson, Abercrombie & Fitch and Ralph Lauren, the firm needed to scale multidisciplinary teams, break down designer-developer silos, and hire talented people from diverse backgrounds while preserving a collaborative, non‑toxic culture.

Tonic tackled this with a flexible, trust-based hiring process and a longstanding apprenticeship (originally the “Minion”) program that trains developers from nontraditional backgrounds, plus a “no jerk” culture policy, mentorship and initiatives to promote women in tech. The result is a cohesive, cross‑functional team able to deliver end-to-end digital products for major brands, retain and grow talent, and stay focused on emerging technologies and client needs.

Tonic Design Co.

Leon Degtar

SVP of Operations