Birmingham Colmore Rebrand |
The cultural, commercial and civic heart of Birmingham
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Always open to new ideas, talent and enterprise, Colmore has long been shaped by culture, commerce and civic leadership. It is home to productive workplaces and vibrant spaces, where communities connect, clusters prosper and everyday life is enriched.
As the district has grown in confidence and complexity, its identity has needed to evolve too. Colmore’s rebrand reflects a deliberate transition — from being seen solely as a Business Improvement District to being recognised as a place in its own right, with a clear sense of purpose, character and belonging
at the heart of Birmingham’s city centre.
Brand strategy: Impakt (Rob Macpherson with Kevin Johnson and Zosia Poulter)
Website: Squibble
Brand Video: Zedmill (Carl Woods)
From B2B to Place to be
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Stakeholder interviews revealed that ‘people don’t get BIDs, they get places.’ The Colmore brand had begun to feel constrained by the look and language of a traditional BID. It was time to reposition the brand — shifting the focus from a business perspective to a place-led vision that celebrates Colmore as a destination for culture, community and enterprise.
Uniquely placed in the middle of the middle. Standing proud at the top of a hill, Colmore is Birmingham’s centre stage in the heart of the city.
BID impact
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Colmore BID is a business-led partnership that makes Birmingham’s central business district a better place to work, visit and invest. It delivers practical improvements beyond core council services. Its focus is on creating a high-quality, competitive city centre where people and businesses thrive.
Business or leisure?
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Now Colmore has two identities: a business-facing brand for levy payers, investors, and engagement with local government, and a public-facing brand, Colmore Life, which is already well known through their popular magazine, which delivers events and festivals.
Heritage meets modernity
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Colmore is a place of characterful contrasts where heritage meets modernity, where tradition meets cutting edge, where culture and commerce converge. The logo and typefaces are inspired by these contrasts found throughout the district.
If these streets could talk
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Typography was inspired by the eclectic mix of street signs around Colmore, reflecting the district’s rich architectural history and layered identity. The colour palette is inspired by the architecture throughout Colmore – where sophisticated materiality of listed buildings meets the contemporary glazing of modern high rises.
From district dressing to digital platforms, the Birmingham Colmore identity toolkit creates a consistent, recognisable presence throughout the district.
More Life
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Colmore’s public-facing communications have an expanded toolkit to bring more energy into the streets of Colmore.
Colmore Life Magazine
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The vertical split system forms the basis of a new look for the Colmore Life magazine, creating a canvas to celebrate the highlights of district life.
A livelier palette
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A brighter, more expressive palette brings colourful combinations to communications.
A messaging framework born directly from the logo shows off how much more Colmore has to offer.
Consistently Colmore
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The Colmore Life identity is built to adapt to key initiatives such as the annual food festival, making every event recognisably Colmore.
Working with Common Curiosity on our rebrand has been a fantastic experience from start to finish. The team embedded themselves fully into our organisation, into Birmingham, and into Colmore’s past, present, and future. Their ability to honour and respect our proud heritage while guiding us toward a confident, modern visual identity was exactly what we needed.
The team asked evocative, challenging questions that pushed our thinking and helped crystallise our vision. Their approach was more than just creative – it was strategic, thoughtful, and deeply rooted in understanding who we are and who we aspire to be.
Responsive, friendly, and incredibly talented, Common Curiosity felt like true partners throughout the process. We’re exceptionally happy with the outcome and grateful for the care and expertise they brought to every stage of the process.