[ OBJECTIVE ]

Architecture of Civic Communication. Target: Boulder County (Government / Public Sector). I was hired as a contractor to help migrate the Boulder County website from Sharepoint into WordPress. I was personally responsible for the Parks and Open Spaces, DMV, Elections, Licenses and Permits pages and content, formatting, layout, etc.

The Landscape: Public sector communication is high-stakes. It requires absolute clarity, accessibility, and trust. A government entity cannot "spin" the truth; it must present complex information (zoning, health, elections) in a way that is immediately understood by a diverse citizenry.

The Mandate: We were engaged to execute the visual communication strategy for critical county initiatives. The goal was to take bureaucratic complexity and translate it into human-readable civic assets. Whether it was public health directives or infrastructure planning, the design had to be authoritative, transparent, and accessible to all demographics.

The county seat is the City of Boulder, the largest municipality in Boulder County. Other incorporated towns and cities include: Erie, Jamestown, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville, Lyons, Nederland, Superior, and Ward. The estimated population of Boulder County in 2019 was just over 326,000. Boulder County is a national leader in innovative sustainability efforts. The county’s EnergySmart Services service was honored with a national Innovation in Government Award. The Zero Waste initiative advocates for eliminating waste by modeling resource management on the waste-free and self-sustaining systems found in nature.

Open Space Conservation

The county has shown a dedication to preserving and maintaining its open space. Protecting open lands remains a core value of the government today. By providing activities, events and services that engage the community in open space conservation and recreation, Boulder County helps to ensure that critical wildlife habitats, farms and areas for recreation will be around for generations to come.

Supportive Community Programs

Programs such as Homeless Services for Boulder County, the Area Agency on Aging, the Community Action Program, Workforce Boulder County, and the Boulder County Housing Authority provide residents with the tools and support they need. Boulder County works on important issues including food safety, medical and mental health services, wellness and nutrition, financial and transportation assistance, disease prevention, substance abuse and addiction, and aging services.

Transportation Services

Boulder County’s transportation programs are designed to increase mobility and reduce congestion throughout Boulder County. Providing a reliable network of roadways, bikeways, trails and transit service to the citizens of Boulder County while ensuring the health, safety and welfare of the public is our goal. Boulder County coordinates, provides and maintains a high quality, safe and multi-modal transportation networks and related services, in a responsive manner, within budget, on schedule, and resulting in high customer satisfaction.

LANDED

Civic Assets Deployed.

We executed a "Citizen-First" design strategy.

• The "Clear Signal" Layout: We developed a modular layout system for public notices and brochures that utilized ample white space and strong typographic hierarchy. This ensured that critical alerts stood out from regulatory fine print.

• Accessible Design: We adhered to strict accessibility standards (contrast ratios, legible fonts), ensuring that the communication reached every member of the community, regardless of visual impairment or language barriers.

• Brand Authority: We maintained the integrity of the county seal and identity system, ensuring that every piece of collateral carried the weight and legitimacy of the local government.

WEBSITE

• bouldercounty.org
• PUBLIC TRUST SECURED