Akron launches community-driven process to design new city logo

Stephanie Marsh, director of communications for the city of Akron, told the Rules Committee that the city has launched a community-led process to select a new Akron logo for the city’s bicentennial year.

“We are excited to be here with you today to talk a little bit more, about the process to design a new city of Akron logo,” Marsh said, introducing an 11-member subcommittee and a short video about past city marks.

The effort will combine a public survey and contractor-led design work. Marsh said the city launched a six-question survey and is collecting responses at AkronOhio.gov/logo; she also provided an email contact for questions: smarsh@Akronohio.gov. “If you go to AkronOhio.gov/logo, you can take that survey. You can share it with your residents,” she said. The survey is available online in English, Spanish and Arabic and has been translated into Nepali, Karen, Pashto, Dari and Swahili.

Marsh described the subcommittee as representing arts, culture, higher education and community groups. Presenters who introduced themselves at the committee included Nicole Mullet (executive director, ArtsNOW), Matt Greer (executive director, Akron 200), Megan DeLong (University of Akron, Public Art Commission), Summer Hall (city cultural engagement coordinator/public arts liaison) and Dara Harper (president and co‑founder, Akron Black Artists Guild / Art Only Boutique). Marsh also credited Tyrone Hoiston for producing a short video of historical logos shown to the committee.

Marsh said the city issued a request for proposals for a contractor or firm to support the design process and to work early in the engagement timeline so community feedback will guide design work. “So ultimately, the idea is to bring them on early in the process so that as we're doing this engagement and we're hearing this feedback from folks, that that's really guiding their efforts,” she said. The RFP materials posted on the city website set a budget ceiling of up to $50,000 for the contractor’s work; Marsh said the city also has a separate, small implementation budget of about $5,000.

The subcommittee plans summer tabling at community events and a virtual forum about the RFP on April 29 co‑hosted by the Akron Black Artists Guild, ArtsNOW and Summit Artspace. Marsh said the subcommittee has been working with Asia Inc. (described in the presentation as “Asian services in action”) to promote the survey in immigrant and refugee communities and with Akron Public Schools to involve art students in logo concepts.

Councilwoman Linda Mobian, who said she had already completed the survey, urged a design that reflects the city’s diversity and affordability. “It’ll be great to try to pull all that together somehow,” she said, and noted an expectation that the logo would be unveiled as part of bicentennial events later in the year.

Marsh encouraged committee members to share the survey and the RFP; she repeated the RFP deadline: “Proposals are due by May 19.”

The presentation did not include a formal vote; committee members asked for additional detail on rollout costs and implementation, and Marsh said staff would provide past implementation cost data from the 2023 branding rollout on request.

The subcommittee and city staff plan community outreach throughout spring and summer and said final scheduling for design delivery will follow review of community input and submitted proposals.