Cool Boulder Brand Development
Cool Boulder is a community climate initiative that uses nature-based solutions to cool neighborhoods, support biodiversity, and build resilience. It connects residents and local partners around actions like planting trees, restoring soil, and creating pollinator habitats.
We developed the brand identity, accompanying graphical elements, and communications materials for the City’s multi-year community program, helping address the climate crisis and spur climate action.
Park-to-Park Chautauqua Shuttle Brand Development & Collateral
Park-to-Park is Boulder’s free seasonal shuttle service connecting visitors with Chautauqua Park from downtown and other stops around the city. The program makes it easier to access one of Boulder’s most popular destinations while reducing traffic, parking pressure, and neighborhood impacts.
We developed the Park-to-Park brand and supporting collateral to make the service easy to recognize and use. The work created a clear, welcoming visual system across rider communications, signage, and program materials, and included audience targeting, a messaging toolkit, and digital and print materials.
Open Space and Mountain Parks Brand Development
Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks protects more than 46,000 acres of natural, agricultural, and cultural lands while providing opportunities for recreation, learning, and connection to the outdoors. The department manages these places for long-term ecological health, public access, and community well-being.
We developed refreshed brand positioning and messaging, along with a 50th anniversary logo to mark the milestone and celebrate OSMP’s stewardship and the many benefits of protected public land.
Climate Resilience Landscape Showcase Signage
The Climate Resilient Landscape Showcase celebrates Boulder landscapes that conserve water, support pollinators, reduce wildfire risk, and help neighborhoods adapt to heat and other climate impacts. It inspires residents through featured projects, public tours, and recognition for practical, locally rooted landscape solutions.
We developed interpretive signage for showcase sites that feels at home in the beautiful spaces they mark, helping visitors understand the climate benefits and design choices behind each landscape. The installations recognize finalists and winners, guide tour visitors, and make climate-resilient practices more visible.
City of Boulder Community Vitality Department Brand Development
| The City’s Community Vitality department works at the intersection of economic opportunity, culture, and the public spaces that bring a city to life.
We built a flexible visual identity and rolled it out across flyers, presentations, digital and print ads, and brand guidelines, giving the team a cohesive toolkit for showcasing all that makes Boulder thrive. |
City of Boulder’s Nature-Based Solutions Campaign
The City of Boulder’s Nature-Based Solutions team advances climate resilience by restoring and strengthening the ecosystems people depend on—from urban forests and pollinator habitats to healthy soils and absorbent landscapes.
We helped create a multi-faceted Environmental Health Campaign to educate the community on Boulder’s biodiversity-centered approach, while also improving understanding and management of environmental chemical exposures and their associated health impacts. We developed the “Force of Nature,” “Community Sense,” and “Home Front” program language and designs, and built the associated campaign landing pages.
Pearl Street Totems
The Pearl Street Totems are a public-art and wayfinding installation that adds color, character, and a sense of discovery to Boulder’s downtown pedestrian district. Placed at key intersections along Pearl Street Mall, they create a more engaging, memorable experience for residents and visitors.
We concepted and created these locally fabricated totems featuring poetry by Boulder artists to draw people into the heart of the West End.
Zero Waste Strategy and Collateral
| Boulder’s Zero Waste Strategy advances a circular economy by reducing waste at the source and keeping materials in use through reuse, recycling, and composting. The city’s long-term goal is to divert 85% of community waste from landfills, supported by universal access to compost, recycling, and trash collection.
To make progress toward Zero Waste easier to understand, we created infographics and collateral that show how far Boulder has come and how residents can help move the work forward. |
The City of Boulder’s Climate Commitment: Research and Strategy
| The City of Boulder’s Climate Commitment provides a long-term framework for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, strengthening community resilience, and advancing an equitable clean-energy transition. It brings together action across energy, transportation, waste, water, food, ecosystems, and land use to turn ambitious climate goals into measurable local progress.
For more than three years, Vermilion partnered with the City of Boulder to shape the approach, messaging, and strategy behind its Climate Commitment. Grounded in audience research, we developed the “Climate Bold” platform and communications framework. The work helped shape a cohesive approach for translating complex climate data, policies, and initiatives into clear, motivating messages for the Boulder community. |
ClimateSmart Branding and Messaging
ClimateSmart is a Boulder campaign that helps residents and businesses reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) through energy efficiency, renewable energy, and more sustainable transportation choices. Its goal is to make everyday climate action accessible and visible across the community.
We provided branding and messaging development to give the program a clear, motivating identity. The work translated complex climate goals into practical, audience-focused communications that encouraged participation and action.
Heat Pump Adoption Campaign
The City of Boulder needed a clear, compelling way to help residents understand heat pumps: how they work, why they matter, and what it could mean to make the switch.
Vermilion developed the campaign concept, creative, and channel strategy, then brought it to life across email, direct mail, paid and organic social, search, and digital advertising.
