Inherent Character designed a Gateway, Wayfinding and Interpretive program for the Art District in Denver’s industrial Five Points and Upper Larimer neighborhoods. Gateways are located at key entry points from each direction providing a strong sense of arrival. Rusted Corten Steel with cut-outs of the branding elements were designed to extend a rustic yet contemporary look and feel appropriate for the district. Wayfinding complements the new streetscape revitalization directed by City of Denver Planning and Public Works.

Design: Inherent Character

Services: District-wide planning and design for district gateways, vehicular and pedestrian wayfinding. Comprehensive Sign Plan (CSP). Interpretive planning and design.

Client: RiNo Art District

Branding: Hadley Hooper

Fabrication: Junoworks

Funding: RiNo BID and City of Denver (NDCC)

Commemorating the history of North Denver, an Interpretive Program was designed to reveal former street names that changed as the area transformed from residential to industrial and back to residential in the 21st Century. In total, 36 signs are installed along Brighton Blvd, Chestnut Pl, Arkins Ct, Delgany St, and Walnut St. These signs show the historic street name, neighborhood or area name, and include a historic map graphic.

"Each medallion presents a historic street name and current neighborhood along with various pre-20th century maps that illustrate the former streets and grid. Some former street names are descriptive of a story or a place from the past that is no longer there. Other streets were re-named deliberately to differentiate the area from Lower Downtown." Kelan Smith, Inherent Character.

Design: Inherent Character

Services: Research, design and implementation of 36 street name signs on five streets in RiNo.

Client: Historic Denver

Fabrication: Fossil Industries

For the 50th Anniversary of the heart of Denver’s Lower Downtown, Inherent Character researched and designed an environmental banner program consisting of a series large-scale “windows” based on historic architecture with images of the past 50 years of people interacting with the place. The window images “float” above the street throughout the block with smaller history banners on light posts.

Design: Inherent Character

Services: Concept design, development and implementation of event banners and history features.

Client: Larimer Associates

50th Anniversary Branding: AOR

Banner Printing: Sign Language XL

Brilliant Founder: Dana Crawford

To enhance the identity of Downtown Lakewood as part of the popular Belmar area, the City of Lakewood engaged Inherent Character to design and implement identity features at key intersections on Alameda Avenue. The Alameda Gateway corridor represents the original link from Denver to Red Rocks Amphitheater. Red sandstone walls and boulders are a reference to the geology of the front range mountains. A counterpoint vertical “spire” was designed as a distinctive and visible landmark for the City. Entry or City Limits signs were also re-designed as well as the renovation of the existing entry portals at Colfax and Sheridan. New energy efficient lighting and a new “automotive” paint scheme updates these two columns that announce the entry into Lakewood from Denver.

Design: Inherent Character

Services: Concept design, development and implementation of Alameda Avenue Gateway Features and City Entry Signs. Comprehensive Sign Plan (CSP)

Client: City of Lakewood Planning & Alameda Corridor BID

Landscape Architect: Civitas

Fabrication: Rino Sign Works (Alameda Avenue Monuments) & e3 Signs (Colfax Entry Portal Renovation)

To enhance the Civic Center and Cultural Center environment, the City of Lakewood engaged Inherent Character to design and implement a phased interior and exterior sign program to update all wayfinding and identification signs including the Civic Center buildings, parking garage, plaza and police and courts buildings. Both destinations had updated their brand standards which inspired the new design with pattern, color and form to extend a higher quality of materials and provide improved messaging and mapping for visitors.

Design: Inherent Character

Services: Concept, development and implementation of Civic Center and Cultural Center interior wayfinding program

Client: City of Lakewood Community Resources

Fabrication: Husky Signs

Inherent Character designed a system of icons for featured intersections at Belmar along the Alameda Avenue Corridor in Lakewood, Colorado. Included are symbols for the former Villa Italia Mall, Belmar Mansion, Belmar Farms and the history of local agriculture all celebrating Belmar’s Downtown. Each icon is sandblasted and painted at intersection corners for a pedestrian audience, then linked to the ACBID website for more expanded narrative stories. The project was funded by the ACBID, the Alameda Corridor Business Improvement District.

https://alamedaconnects.org/discover-alameda-history/

“Civic history can become invisible or lost to time. These icons help reveal elements of interest or places from Lakewood’s past. Now, residents and visitors can recall or learn something by simply walking down the street.” Kelan Smith, Inherent Character

A second phase of the Discover Alameda Trail is a series of Utility Box vinyl “wraps” that function as pedestrian wayfinding from Alameda Avenue into the Belmar District featuring Downtown amenities such as parks, the Civic Center and art destinations. These are associated with a Public Art program next to each wayfinding box.

Design: Inherent Character

Services: Corridor Interpretive History Program icon designs for nine locations

Client: ACBID, Alameda Corridor Business Improvement District

Sandblasting: Lightning Mobile Services

Stanley Marketplace is a community of 50+ businesses working together to offer a place to eat, drink, work, play, learn, grow, gather and explore. Located in northwest Aurora on the border of Stapleton. Inherent Character provided design services for the interior wayfinding and tenant sign criteria including directories (Stanley Navigator), directional signs and site regulatory and informational signage.

stanleymarketplace.com

Design: Inherent Character

Services: Concept, development and implementation of interior sign program

Client: Stanley Marketplace and Westfield

Fabrication: Industrial Luxury and Sonic Signs

Inspired by pre-batched cocktails found in London, The Cooper Lounge introduced their own trio of house-crafted cocktails available at the Mezzanine level bar at Union Station in Denver, Colorado. Inherent Character designed labels for the Vesper, Manhattan and Negroni cocktails, each with a distinctive visual twist and beautiful vintage typefaces and patterns based on interior design and materials at the Lounge.

www.thecrawfordhotel.com

Design: Inherent Character

Services: Concept design and development of cocktail labels

Client: City Street Investors & Union Station

Earnest Hall, in Denver’s Sunnyside neighborhood, is the re-imagination of the original Ernie’s Supper Club—an area favorite since 1948. Inherent Character collaborated with City Street Investors and Allie Vostrejs to develop a new logo based on the new name. Printed and LED screen menus, building signage and other printed collateral were also designed and produced for the restaurant renovation.

Design: Inherent Character

Services: Design and development of Logo, Interior and Exterior Signs, Printed and Digital Menus and other collateral

Client: City Street Investors