VibrantProsperity
A visual language for six cities
C40 Cities worked with Buro Happold to develop case studies exploring opportunities for cleaner, more sustainable construction in Quezon City, Qingdao, Milan, Toronto, Ekurhuleni and Mexico City.
Written primarily for mayors and government officials, the research also addressed the public and investors. Its detailed technical content needed to remain accessible across these audiences.
Led by Linaka Greensword, Buro Happold’s visual communications team developed Vibrant Prosperity, an illustration-led approach that pictured the everyday life of more sustainable cities.
Illustration Six cityscapes
Drawing each city
Each illustration reflected its city’s character within a shared visual style. This gave the six publications a consistent identity while allowing the imagery to respond to each location.
Illustration Colour and character
The illustrations combined recognisable landmarks with greenery, transport and scenes of daily life. A bright, expressive palette gave the cityscapes warmth and activity, connecting the subject of cleaner construction to the places people inhabit.
Information and editorial design The city reports
Their colours and visual elements informed the iconography, information graphics and editorial layouts throughout the publications.
The cityscapes established the wider graphic language. Working closely with Buro Happold’s sustainability consultants, the team refined the written content and its presentation. Page layouts organised the technical material to help readers navigate the research without reducing its substance.
More city applications
Motion design The campaign reels
The Toronto and Mexico City illustrations were adapted into portrait reels for the marketing campaign. Animated scenes accompanied key messages about cleaner construction and the recommendations in the research.
Read a description of the reel
Buro Happold and C40 Cities introduce a series of clean construction reports, beginning with Toronto. The film presents the reports’ aim of supporting resource-efficient, net zero construction. It outlines eight recommended policies focused on the circular economy, including retrofitting, reducing demolition and using bio-based materials. Potential benefits include affordable housing, green jobs, cleaner air and biodiversity.
The animation moves through a Toronto street and a building under construction, then shows materials being reused on a school. Trees appear alongside the potential benefits. The final image shows the Toronto report on a laptop and invites viewers to read it.
Read a description of the Mexico City reel
The film introduces Mexico City as the second city in the clean construction report series. It outlines seven recommended policies that build on work already underway, including alternative uses for vacant spaces, waste management commitments and maintenance and retrofit programmes to reduce demolition.
Animated city scenes show people moving through public spaces and materials being reused. Text describes the intended benefits of cleaner construction, including better air quality, accessible housing and green jobs. The film ends with the Mexico City report on a laptop and an invitation to read it.