Client: Colorado Department of Revenue

The Team: OIT | Marketing | Graphics Development

Project: DORi Chatbot Character Design

The Brief:
The Colorado Department of Revenue was launching a new digital support initiative, the Department of Revenue Interactive, or DORi, a chatbot designed to help the public quickly find answers to common tax questions online. My role was to create the visual identity for DORi through an original mascot character that would feel approachable, memorable, and easy to trust.

The team specifically requested an owl, drawing on the familiar association of owls with wisdom and guidance, making it a natural fit for an assistant built to answer questions. They also wanted the character to feel fun, quirky, and brightly colored. One direction from the marketing team captured the tone perfectly:

“We want a cute little creature. Think Pokémon.”

The Approach:
Government services can often feel formal or intimidating, especially when tied to taxes and compliance. The goal was to soften that experience by giving the chatbot a friendly face that encouraged interaction. I developed the owl character to balance intelligence with warmth, creating something that felt knowledgeable without feeling stiff or overly corporate.

Bright colors, expressive features, and a clean silhouette helped the character feel modern, recognizable, and adaptable across digital and marketing uses.

The Result:
DORi became the personality behind the chatbot experience, helping humanize a public-facing digital tool and making online support feel more welcoming for Colorado residents.

This project remains one of my favorite examples of blending illustration, branding, and user experience in an unexpected space.

DORi

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