Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Branding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Brighton reviews proposed city brand and logo concepts from Crimson
Summary
Brighton City Council heard a branding presentation from Crimson and the Michigan Municipal League, discussed three logo directions and concerns about preserving the city's small‑town character, and set a May feedback timeline with final work to be completed under a grant by June 30.
Brighton City Council members heard a presentation April 22 from Crimson, a branding firm, and the Michigan Municipal League on proposed new logos, a brand profile and a draft purpose statement for the city.
City Manager Gamolka told the council the project originated from a January 2024 council retreat and grant funding arranged through the Michigan Municipal League and Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation support. "If you recall, it was over a year ago at our January 2024 retreat," Gamolka said as staff introduced the consultants. Crimson described the work as more than a logo: "a brand is a feeling. It's the way somebody reacts when they think of something, when they see it, when they interact with it," said Chris Heaton, CEO of Crimson.
Crimson presented three overarching design directions built on a brand archetype it identified for Brighton: an "explorer" archetype with a halo of "every person," intended to communicate both outward-facing energy and local community. The firm showed variations and applications (banners, shirts, hats, and a proposed wordmark rule) and walked the council through how color palettes and icons could be used across applications.
Council members praised the work but voiced reservations about the proposed tone. "One of the things that we always talk about here is the small‑town feel of Brighton and how we want to do what we can to keep that small‑town feel going forward," Councilmember Gibson said, asking whether the explorer archetype would preserve the city's heritage. Other council members raised similar points about retaining emblematic elements such as the existing "B" motif used around town and suggested the new mark and the historical emblem could coexist.
Staff said the branding is funded by a grant and that Crimson has budgeted an additional refinement round. Council agreed to take time to ‘‘marinate’’ on the concepts and provide consolidated feedback to staff. Manager Gamolka told the council copies of the full presentation will be distributed to members. The council also discussed timing: staff said the work funded by the grant must be completed by June 30, and Crimson and staff agreed to gather council feedback ahead of the next meetings in mid‑May and late May.
The presentation did not include any formal vote to adopt a new logo; councilmembers asked staff and the consultant to return after collecting council feedback and refining the designs.
