Jerome Township officials unveiled a new logo after years of working on a rebranding initiative.
Trustee Megan Sloat, who spearheaded the project, said she feels the result is an image that embodies the past, present and future of Jerome Township.
“It’s a good way to preserve the past but at the same time giving it a modern twist,” she said.
The new logo updates the previous graphic of the entire Soldier’s Monument by zooming in on just the face of the soldier.
Sloat said it was important to keep the focus of the logo the iconic monument, located at the corner of Industrial Parkway and U.S. 42, for the sake of “continuity.”
While the subject matter is the same, “we’re doing it in a different way,” she said.
It also changes the color palette from red and black to a deep blue and tan. Alternate logos use a gray to accent the dark blue.
Sloat explained that the rebranding process began several years ago.
She said the aim was to update the logo and create a new color palette that can be used on signage throughout the township and documentation used by officials.
Sloat said she heard from a number of residents – especially those newer to the township – that “didn’t know what our logo was.”
She said, once they were told that it was the Soldier’s Monument, they could identify the image, but until then some even guessed it was a lighthouse.
In speaking with graphic designers, Sloat said she realized part of the issue was that logos need to be recognizable when they are shrunken to a smaller size.
She said she feels the new logo is much more “striking” and achieves that goal.
“It leaps out at you,” Sloat said.
The subject of the new logo also incorporates feedback from residents.
Sloat noted that residents had several months to participate in a survey asking them whether they would prefer township branding revolves around the area’s history or its future.
While the vote was approximately a 63%/37% split, Sloat said she felt it was close enough that both perspectives should be incorporated.
The Soldier’s Monument represents the township’s history, while the actual design of the image takes a more modern approach, she said.
Sloat said the logo will be incorporated into the township’s new website and eventually used for signage.
Township Administrator Brandon Standley said officials are “super excited” to begin using the new image.
Sloat’s fellow trustees thanked her for her work on the project and shared their approval.
“I love it,” Trustee Wezlynn Davis said. “This is really beautiful.”
Trustee Barry Adler agreed, adding, “it came out really well.”
The logo was completed by Slagle Design, a Columbus-based firm.