The Research & Innovation Office (RIO), through private consultants, offers graphic design and development services to help increase the competitiveness of grant proposals for principal investigators. Services may include but are not limited to developing effective graphics and images; maximizing colors, fonts, designs, etc. to convey ideas; and creating accessible graphics and design.

Eligibility for Support

All CU Boulder Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty, Instructors and Senior Instructors, and Career Track Research Faculty (i.e., Research Professors Series, Senior Research Associates (SRA), and Research Associates (RA)) who hold an appointment of half-time or greater are eligible for support. Support is subject to the graphic designer’s availability.

Support is available for proposals with an overall budget of a minimum of $250,000. Projects involving cost-share are typically not supported. CU Boulder must be the lead institution; subawards are not supported through this initiative.

Principal investigators receiving support agree to work directly with the graphic designer, providing information and answering questions to facilitate the product.

Types of Support

RIO will contribute up to 50% of the graphic design costs up to a maximum of $1,000; the remaining costs are the responsibility of the principal investigator/unit(s). Estimates will vary based on the scope of the project.

RIO is also available to connect you with consultants directly. Please be advised that these are external firms to CU Boulder and services are accepted at your discretion and cost.

Requesting Support

Requests should be submitted at least four weeks in advance of the grant deadline to provide time for quality product development. To request support, email a description (including a sketch/image, if possible) of graphic design assistance needed to rio@colorado.edu. Be sure to include key points of emphasis or priority. All requests are subject to graphic designer availability.