Arlington Heights District 25 unveils updated school logos
Arlington Heights Elementary District 25 has unveiled updated logos for all nine of its schools that are being placed in and around the school buildings.
District officials hope the refreshed designs and colors generate and enhance the pride and excitement each school community has for its school.
"Logos are a bigger deal than just pictures and word marks," said Adam Harris, the district's communications coordinator, who's overseen the logo project. "They represent pride for your school and they become part of the culture of the school."
Tom Riesing, a professional graphic designer and District 25 parent and graduate, volunteered to create logos for Thomas and South middle schools and Windsor and Dryden elementary schools a couple years ago. The district then hired Riesing in the fall of 2015 for $2,100 to do logos for the remaining schools.
Riesing went school by school and met with each principal, who gave feedback on various designs. Ultimately, students were presented two options per school to vote on.
After the winning primary logo was determined, Riesing created four alternate logos. For instance, Dryden's main logo is a dolphin inside a "Dryden" hula hoop. The other artwork includes "Dryden Dolphins" and "Dryden Elementary" watermark logos, a "Fear the Phins" logo and "D" logo.
District 25's iconic logo - formerly pixilated - was given a "more modern look," but not altered significantly, Harris said.
Since Riesing completed his work, a few schools have spoken with Arlington Heights-based Signs By Tomorrow and are in the process of putting up the logos both inside and outside the school buildings, including on windows and front doors. Banners for each school have gone up at the district's office, and the logos have also been incorporated on school websites and letterheads.
"It really enhances the way we communicate," Harris said. "People that will get our letterheads will think, 'Oh, that's a really nice school district.' That's the first thing I want people to think when they see our stuff."