People’s Budget Office
Philadelphia’s City Budget is more than just numbers – it’s a reflection of the city’s values, priorities, and future. Yet, the budget process can feel boring, complex, and inaccessible. The People’s Budget Office wants to change that.
Founded in 2021, the People’s Budget Office transforms the municipal budgeting process into an inclusive, creative, and community-driven experience. They use public art, education, and advocacy to empower residents to engage directly in shaping how public funds are allocated.
By making the budget process transparent, accessible, and playful, they ensure that all Philadelphians—regardless of background, age, or experience—can have a say in how their city is built and resourced.
Strategic phase: core pillars
In the initial design phase, three core attributes of the People’s Budget Office were identified. Our visual branding strategy communicates these core attributes across all graphic mediums. Success is measured by how effectively the People’s Budget Office conveys these values to a public audience.
Bringing imagination to the city budget
The new visual identity combines elements of budget spreadsheets with a bold color palette, impactful typography, and collaged photos of community members and government services. The logo’s asterisk suggests that more is yet to come — to create a thriving city, we must first imagine it.
We use collaged imagery of constituents, local government, and city services throughout the brand materials.
