Today AIGA Colorado announced Denver: The Urban Forest Project, an outdoor design exhibition that will line California St. near the Colorado Convention Center Oct. 5 - 20.

The project first happened in New York where it won considerable praise from the public and press last fall. In both cities the project invited designers to create street banners that incorporate the form, idea or characteristic of a tree - a metaphor of growth and sustainability.

For the Denver project, Colorado-based designers partnered with students to create 48 banners that will be displayed on California St. between 14th St. and the 16th Street Mall.

Denver: The Urban Forest Project coincides with NEXT: the AIGA national design conference to be held at the Colorado Convention Center Oct. 11 - 14. Attracting more than 3,000 thought leaders and practitioners of design from across North America, attendees will see the project throughout their stay.

While the public will notice bucolic banners, conference attendees and those who visit the website denverurbanforest.com will learn about the project's sustainable design practices.

The banner printing is provided by Banner Creations, a Minneapolis-based company that uses Ecophab, a material made from 100% recycled plastic bottles.

After they are taken down, the spirit of growth and renewal will continue through "upcycling." Specifically, the banners will be transformed into designer bags and accessories. The resulting products will be sold online, with proceeds going toward Colorado design education initiatives.

Banners to sprout next month
A perfect photo opportunity, we'll keep you posted as to the precise date and time that the banners will be hung.

About The Urban Forest Project Denver
Denver: The Urban Forest Project is presented by AIGA (national), Banner Creations and Agency. Further support provided by AIGA Colorado, Egan Printing, and Idaho Stew + Ink Lounge Gallery. More information can be found at: http://www.denverurbanforest.com/

About The Urban Forest Project
The Urban Forest Project was conceived by Worldstudio and developed in conjunction with AIGA NY and Times Square Alliance. At its launch in 2006 it was unprecedented: one hundred eighty-five of some of the world's most celebrated designers and artists employed the idea or form of the tree to make a powerful visual statement on banners that were displayed throughout Times Square.
Press clips:http://timessquarenyc.org/media/urbanforestmedia.html
Website: http://www.urbanforestproject.org/

About NEXT: the 2007 National Design Conference
In Denver Oct. 11 - 14, more than 3,000 designers will converge for the leading gathering of visual communication designers. Website: http://designconference2007.aiga.org/