DENVER — After two years of planning, designing and voting, Colorado's new driver license and ID design was revealed on Monday, Feb. 28.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) revealed Colorado’s new driver license and identification card in a ceremony Monday.
“Like the Rocky Mountains itself, this card is built to last,” Polis said. “It has the latest security technology, is very difficult to counterfeit and it’s the most durable material we could find on the market.”
A design contest launched on Aug. 17, 2020 with the goal of transforming Colorado's driver licenses into the nation’s most beautiful. The contest received 407 submissions from 119 entrants.
Three final designs were selected by a committee that included motor vehicle administrators, artists and Polis. A final public vote on the top three designs received 55,760 votes.
> Watch: Polis unveils new Colorado driver license design:
“For the first time, Coloradans had a voice in the design of our official State credentials and I am proud that the new Colorado driver license better reflects the iconic beauty of our great state,” said Polis. “This card continues to build on the convenience of Digital IDs and mobile driver licenses, and like the Rocky Mountains, this card is built to last with the latest security technology. I am excited to renew my own license today and be among the first to get this beautiful new Colorado driver’s license.”
The winning design from photographers Matt Nuñez and Gabriel Dupon was revealed on March 1, 2021. The new designs were slated to debut in fall 2021, but that was pushed to early 2022 to allow further refinement of the card.
Nuñez's winning photo of Mount Sneffels is featured on the front-side of the new licenses, while Dupon's entry of a Sprague Lake photo can be found on the back-side of the new cards.
Nuñez and Dupon each received a $500 grant each, courtesy of Colorado Creative Industries, a division of Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), which partnered with the DMV to help promote the contest.
Work on Colorado's new "Iconic Credential" began in February 2020. Colorado last redesigned its credentials in 2015.
Polis was joined by the Governor’s Advisor on Efficiencies and Digital Transformation Lu Cordova, Colorado Department of Revenue Executive Director Mark Ferrandino, Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Dan Gibbs, and Senior Director of DMV Mike Dixon at Monday's ceremony.
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