At the Nov. 10 External Relations Committee meeting, staff presented bookmark mockups intended as compact leave-behinds derived from the WAB one-pager. Members described several mockups as "too busy" and asked for a stronger, simpler presence of the Wisconsin Arts Board mark so recipients immediately recognize who produced the item.

"I would rather see that rotated on its side taking up the whole 1 side of it," said Brian Kelsey when suggesting larger logo placement to boost branding impact. Several members also urged that bookmarks be printed professionally on card stock or gloss rather than office-printed paper to better represent the arts. Members debated whether to include photos of grantee work on the bookmarks; some worried photos could "cloud" the layout, while others recommended using grantee photos to draw interest.

The group also raised the larger question of the agency's visual identity. Multiple participants suggested the WAB mark and purple/teal palette feel dated and should be reconsidered in a planned rebrand. "I’ll just disagree with Brian and say we need to change our logo," one member said, while others acknowledged that a full rebrand could be an 18– to 24-month effort and might require a phased approach. Staff recorded interest in exploring rebranding options but noted the time and resource commitment involved.

Next steps: staff will refine bookmark mockups with the committee's accessibility and branding guidance and consider interim fixes (larger logo, alternate color contrasts) while the board evaluates whether to launch a longer-term rebrand process.