Ask residents to share what they love most about their town, and the answers will be as diverse as the features they enjoy. Thriving business districts, bucolic green spaces and lovingly preserved historic neighborhoods seamlessly blending into vibrant new residences are just a few attributes that make Independence the ideal place to call home.
The city has unveiled a new branding plan that includes wayfinding signs, a logo, and a palette of hues reflecting the ambiance for which Independence is known, which illustrates its civic pride. The iconic bell that’s been a beloved symbol for decades serves as the focal point of the design.
“The bell is very unique to Independence,” says Jessica Hyser, the city’s economic development director, who grew up in Independence and still lives in the city. “The new logo incorporates the initial ‘I’ and colors representing elements of the city: deep blue and gold for the school district’s Blue Devils mascot, deep red for the bricks seen in our Western Reserve architecture; and forest green for our parks, open spaces and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park that’s part of the community.”
Crafted by Cleveland marketing firm Guide Studio, the logo debuted at the Home Days celebration in August.
“Going forward, we’ll have a consistent look and message that will meet the level of expectations our residents and businesses have for the city,” Hyser says.
Independence’s new wayfinding system will help residents and visitors traverse the city’s bustling business districts. For example, color-coded signs will divide
Rockside Road into quadrants and direct drivers to the left or right side of the road, depending on where their
destination is located.
“They’ll help everyone have a positive experience in our city and feel connected to our community
whether they live here, work here, or visit here,” says Independence
communications director Alla Lora.
