Holland Landing resident crafts town's new logo for fraction of the cost of consultant

Holly deWinter 1 of 2 winners of East Gwillimbury's contest

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 9, 2020
Simon Martin

When Holland Landing resident Holly deWinter saw a poster calling for submissions for a new town logo at the library in 2019, the graphic designer knew she wanted to submit something.

Part of the reason deWinter moved to East Gwillimbury with her family four years earlier was its ample space and proximity to nature.

“My kids are into scootering. They love to do that,” she said. “The parks are great here. The trails and the Holland River. We love to go down to the river.”

So when deWinter was workshopping what a new logo for East Gwillimbury should look like she wanted to highlight the natural elements of the town. deWinter had seen the old logo around town and said I looked a little outdated.

Last year, the town launched the logo concept design contest. The town received a total of 66 submissions from 23 individuals.

Once the contest was over, staff underwent a review process to determine which submissions met the concept design requirements and then held further consultation with council, senior management and staff to determine next steps. Through the internal review, two preferred design concepts were identified as the preferred design.

“We have seen other municipalities twist themselves into knots and spend a lot of money on a new logo and I have chills with delight knowing we have done such a bang-up job with our resources internally,” Ward 2 Coun. Tara Roy-DiClemente said.

The town’s communication’s director, Laura Hanna, said by using this process the cost of creating the logo was less than $10,000.

The final phase of the process included an online survey for residents.

deWinter was selected as one of the winners of the contest along with Stephen Smith. Both individuals were awarded $2,500. The monetary prize was icing on the cake for deWinter, who said when she first submitted something there wasn’t even a cash prize.

She helped put the finishing touches on the joint design and is happy with the final product.

“It’s pretty neat that it is going to be around for years,” deWinter said. “I’m really proud of how the final logo turned out and I’m proud to be part of East Gwillimbury.”

Mavor Virginia Hackson was certainly happy with the final effort.

“I’m really excited that someone from our community has that skill and talent,” she said. “(The designs) are fresh and clean and they are who we are now,” she said. “Overall, this process was a tremendous success.”

Hackson said when looking at all the submissions, it became very clear that the natural environment, outdoors spaces and trails are an important part of the community.

The town crest will continue to be used as the town’s official seal for ceremonial use as well as official correspondence, such as facility signs, plaques and bylaws while the town’s new logo will be used for everyday purposes such as branding, marketing, and on town documents.

Last year, the town embarked on finding a new logo after a council discussion about replacing signs in the community, including gateway signs at Yonge and Green Lane and at Green Lane and Highway 404. The total cost of the sign replacement was estimated by town staff to be in the neighbourhood of $350,000.

Before moving forward with that program, council thought it prudent to review the town’s current logo. “I have lived in East Gwillimbury for 25 years and have never seen a beaver,” Carruthers said at the time.

For more information about Holly deWinter you can visit her website at hollydewinterdesign.com.