The Denver city finance department opted for generative artificial intelligence from Canva to quickly create a logo for the “2025 Vibrant Denver Bond” initiative. The resulting logo appeared on stickers during an official event; however, its distinctive AI-generated style quickly raised questions. A month later, the city introduced an alternative logo crafted by a human designer. The new emblem removed the peculiarities of the initial version and became clearer.
The first logo featured several eccentric details: a double sun in the sky, buildings decorated with mysterious lines that resembled enigmatic inscriptions, and oddly shaped trees evoking associations with abstract art. Although the Rundeck Smooth font used in the logo was a human selection, the overall design prompted puzzled smiles among many citizens and experts.
In contrast, the second logo, created by a professional designer, demonstrated a more coherent composition. The imagery took on an authentic urban style, accurately reflecting real-life Denver. Skyscrapers became recognizable, with landmarks like the iconic Wells Fargo “Cash Register” building and the distinctive neoclassical architecture of the City-County Building visible. The second sun was removed, replaced by a single solar disc, becoming a more natural accent above the mountain silhouette.
Despite sharing similar color palettes and motifs of mountains and cityscapes, the human-designed logo was closer and more relatable to Denver residents. City officials acknowledged the imperfections of AI-generated work and intended to avoid similar experiments without thorough evaluation.
When journalists ask about internal policies governing the use of generative artificial intelligence within city administration, officials have not yet provided a specific response.