Brighton forms logo subcommittee after months of review, narrows options

Brighton — The Brighton City Council on July 22 voted to form an ad hoc subcommittee to refine city logo and slogan options developed under a Michigan Municipal League grant and the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation project.

Manager Gretchen Gamolka presented several refreshed logo concepts created by Crimson and said the firm would continue work pro bono if the council wanted additional refinements. The concepts keep the city’s bee motif and add color palettes and layout changes intended for signage and wayfinding.

Council members expressed differing views: some favored a modest refresh that preserves the city’s heritage motif and allows staged implementation; others said the options felt too similar to the existing mark and recommended further work, including soliciting high-school or community designs. Several members said color-coded wayfinding (for example, blue for parking) could help pedestrians and drivers locate services.

Councilmember Pettengill moved to form a subcommittee and Councilmember Gardner seconded. The council appointed Pettengill, Albert and Gardner to the subcommittee and asked staff to include specific script refinements and to consider a public survey after subcommittee review. The motion passed unanimously.

Mayor Toby said the subcommittee should work with staff and return recommended refinements to the city manager for further action. Council directed that the set for subcommittee review include three refresh options plus the existing logo as a fourth choice.