Brand Platform
At Boulder, we produce all written and visual messaging within the Be Boulder. brand platform by using the university’s brand character, tone, manner and visual identity. When delivered consistently, Be Boulder. can instill a sense of trust, groundedness and stability for our audiences. Two communication tools help reinforce the brand platform: Be statements and the Buff identity framework.
Be statements are inspirational, supportive and succinct statements that you can use to express the main message and emotion behind your communications. They reinforce the brand platform by explaining what it means to “be Boulder.” Be statements resonate most with the learner audience, but you can use them for all audiences.
Sample Be Statements to Use
Be statements stem from the qualities of our community and outcomes the university enables people to achieve. Use real stories from our primary audiences as inspiration for creating your own Be statements.
Examples:
- Be adventurous.
- Be impactful.
- Be curious.
- Be supported.
- Be daring.
- Be balanced.
- Be thoughtful.
- Be driven.
- Be sustainable.
Sample Be Statements Not to Use
The following statements were part of the original Be statements list, but we no longer use them because they do not match our brand character, tone and manner.
- Be Colorado. The System uses this Be statement for their health and wellness initiative, so we do not use it as a Be statement at Boulder.
- Be good. Be giving. Be ethical. Be honest. Be noble. These statements are not on brand because of their potentially reprimanding tone.
- Be competitive. This Be statement conflicts with one of Boulder’s main differentiators: our collaborative academic spirit.
- Be pioneering. We do not use the words “pioneer” or “pioneering” because of their historically harmful definitions and associations.
Communication Tool: Buff Identity Framework
The Buff identity framework is a communication tool that enables pride, community and belonging at Boulder. At a high level, this framework guides our audiences through three main phases of the user journey:
- Future Buffs: Used for prospective audiences during the awareness and consideration phase.
- Buff statements: Self-selected by current and engaged Buff audiences as they find, develop and thrive within their Boulder communities.
- Forever Buffs: The eternal title given to graduating learners as they join the alumni network and Forever Buff family.
How to Build and Use Buff Statements
Buff statements allow our primary audiences to self-select how they prefer to state their Buff pride and belonging to niche Buff communities. The play with the word “Buff” provides a fun way to show Boulder spirit while helping our communities identify their passions, interests and areas of knowledge.
Sample Buff Statements
There are two types of Buff statements: the individual Buff statement and the collective Buff statement.
- Example: I am a space Buff.
Use individual Buff statements for interest fields—not for colleges, schools, programs or units. Precede “Buff” in the sample statement with a noun that represents your audience’s interest, field of study or research. Do not use a type of person as your noun, such as learner, parent or teacher.
- Example: Arts Buffs
Use the collective identity for communications that have no individual tie to a person, but instead have a tie to a group from a college, school, program or team. The collective identity can also represent Boulder’s contribution to society, such as “Innovative Buffs” or “Entrepreneur Buffs.” If using with a secondary audience, you must accompany the statement with stats or additional context.
Omitted Buffs Statement: Buffs Together
Buffs Together is a rallying cry for hard times—emerging from the pandemic and closing of in-person education in spring 2020. It is to remain as a rallying cry during hard times to evoke togetherness, community and resiliency. Use Buffs Together only for issues management and during dire situations.