Sharon Gochenour explores the ways in which the evolution of graphic communications – from building signage to official logos – represent various aspects of Kansas City's identity.
Although shaped by the subjective tastes and motivations of graphic designers and their clients, past and present, graphic communication can be seen to cumulatively representing the ethos of a common time or place. In cities everywhere, extant public advertisements and graphic representations that arose organically out of historic socio-economic conditions often convey what can be considered a city's "authentic" character. And, using Kansas City as a case study, Gochenour argues that these "authentic" and unique historic images exert a strong power on the city's contemporary identity and its graphic communications, as "[h]istoric advertisements become the layered background of the present, and the character of the past becomes the publicity of the present.
"In the case of Kansas City, the modern city and its image were largely produced by an industrial boom in manufacturing, warehousing, rail traffic, and stockyards in the early part of the 20th century." Today, many graphic creators still focus on the city during its formative years and, as Gochenour's accompanying photographic examples demonstrate, their designs are showcased throughout different neighborhoods in Kansas City.
As the City government and other economic organizations look to rebrand the city as a place of intellectual commerce with sleek logos and websites, their top-down efforts create an interesting tension with the "layered reality of the street," observes Gochenour.
FULL STORY: Urban Branding: The Evolution of Kansas City's Graphic Identity

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions
An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?
The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts
Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie