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Greenwood County staff seek council guidance on new logo, keep seal for legal use
Summary
County public information officer presented three proposed logos and a phased transition plan, arguing the existing 1973 seal is too detailed for digital and marketing needs; staff will return with revised renderings (including courthouse or Park Plaza) and recommended next steps.
Abby, Greenwood County’s public information officer, asked the council to give guidance or formal approval on a new county logo after reviewing the history and limitations of the current county seal. "The seal is the government, not necessarily the people, but it is the government, used for ordinances and contracts, resolutions, and proclamations," she said, explaining why the seal should remain for official legal documents while a simpler logo could serve marketing and communications needs.
The presenter traced the seal’s origin to a 1973 Festival of Flowers contest (artist Mark Baltsziger) and pointed out elements now difficult to read at small sizes. She said the seal’s detailed imagery and inconsistent departmental usage make it impractical for digital icons, social media, apparel and signage. Staff worked with Columbia-based firm Blue Avenue on three concepts: a "Sun and Lake" option, a "Town" design that emphasizes industry and downtown character, and a minimalist option modeled on simpler municipal marks. An internal employee survey (Nov. 19–27) that drew 59 votes ranked the Sun and Lake option first, a county‑branded monogram second and the Town design third, though many staff did not submit ranked preferences beyond their first choice.
Why change now? Staff cited forthcoming Park Plaza signage and a desire to avoid replacing newly installed signs with an updated identity. The presenter described a cost‑conscious rollout: maintain the seal for legal actions, adopt a new logo for marketing, centralize assets in a shared drive, update digital platforms first and replace physical items on normal replacement cycles.
Councilmembers split on preferred direction. Several said they favored a simpler, Chester County‑style mark that reads clearly as a government identity; others preferred the Sun and Lake design’s regional cues. One member asked that the design include "South Carolina" or a clear geographic identifier to avoid confusion with other Greenwoods. The presenter said she would ask the designer to produce alternate renderings—one closer to the Chester model and one that incorporates either the historic courthouse or the new Park Plaza building—and return to council quickly for further guidance.
The council did not vote on a final design and staff will provide additional renderings and a proposed brand guide at a later meeting.
