CUYAHOGA FALLS: The historic city seal shows the waterfalls that the city was named for, a feature that hasn’t existed there since dams were built along the Cuyahoga River more than a century ago.
But a new colorful logo will soon replace the seal on everything from signs and stationary to T-shirts and stickers, reflecting a 21st century culture that emphasizes nature, neighborhoods and amenities.
Exactly what that logo will look like is up to residents.
Three designs — created by high school art students under the guidance of professional branding experts — are offered on a ballot that residents can cast on the city’s website (www.cityofcf.com/mycflogo.)
Beginning Thursday, paper ballots will also be available at Western Reserve Hospital, Cuyahoga Falls Chamber of Commerce, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Cuyahoga Falls Library and at the mayor’s office or utility billing department at City Hall.
Any of the city’s 49,000 residents may cast one vote; voters must provide their name and Cuyahoga Falls address on their ballot.
“To me it’s more than a logo, and I hope other people feel that way,” Mayor Don Walters said. “It defines our city.”
All three options prominently feature the city’s iconic clock tower while also giving a nod to area parks and the Cuyahoga River. Two logos include the Blossom Music Center’s pavilion. One image incorporates residential homes.
Walters said the idea for the logo came after the city’s website was redesigned by the Falls-based marketing company Triad Communications.
The mayor wanted a new and permanent logo, something that “represents the city, where we come from, where we’re going.”
Walters and Triad President Rick Krochka began discussing ways to engage residents when talk turned to enlisting the help of high school students.
Marketing teacher Craig Wargowsky at Cuyahoga Falls High School and art teacher Chelby Codding at Woodridge High School selected top graphic arts students from their classes.
Krochka volunteered his staff to guide and mentor the project.
Woodridge students Amanda Dunn and Clare Willett and Falls students Tommy Hillyer, Ian Hose, and Jake Spinner spent more than a month on the effort, including listening in on a focus group of residents talking about their city, its history and tradition, and the elements and amenities that elicit pride.
The five students presented eight logos to a panel of business professionals, who selected three finalists for the public vote.
The identities of the finalists won’t be revealed until the winner is announced at 8 p.m., July 1 at the Riverfront Concert Series on Front Street.
Wargowsky said the project was a rare and special opportunity for his students, one that “has the potential for thousands of people to see your design every day.”
He said he was impressed with the time and research the teens put into their design.
“It was nice hearing their explanation of why they chose certain elements,” Wargowsky said.
Walters noted that no city money was spent on the project. Triad and the students donated their time, and costs associated with the citywide voting process are being picked up by Triad and Western Reserve Hospital.
“Now, that’s quite a collaboration right there,” Walters said. “It can be quite expensive” to hire a marketing firm to rebrand a city.
While the city seal will still be used on some official documents, the winning logo will show up on letterheads, business cards, and city signage as those materials are reordered or replaced. City officials also imagine selling T-shirts and ballcaps and other promotional items at cost.
Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/paulaschleis.
