Re-branding begins on city signage

Update:

Idaho Falls has agreed to an initial contract with Hunt Design for $750,000 to implement the city’s new wayfinding and signage program. $400,000 was budgeted in 2015.

The contract covers all new city signage including parking signs, directional signs, and attractions.

The project was approved after two years of stakeholder meetings.

The contract price for the “visual identity” portion of the project, which includes a new internal logo, is $25,000. The city has paid $22,705 to date.

The new logos on all city fleet vehicles will be phased in. The cost will be met through the Municipal Equipment Replacement Fund. The new logos and striping will be added as new vehicles come in.

Spokesperson Kerry McCullough said the city has cost estimates to stripe new police vehicles and for letterhead and business cards. But, as of December, purchase orders have not been issued.

At this time, most of the public changes will be “electronic”, including changes to correspondence, e-mail signatures, website, social media, and business card backdrops.

ORIGINAL STORY:

There’s been some concern over the Idaho Falls way finding and visual identity projects. These are projects for the re-branding of Idaho Falls city offices and signage throughout town.

It seems there’s a miscommunication as to the purpose behind the logo change. This project has been in process for two years, now the new logo is being phased in.

Idaho Falls public information officer, Kerry McCullough, said, “We wanted something easy, something simple that people can recognize from a distance.”

There are two separate projects involved.

“About three years ago we started the way finding and signage program which was to unify and get a consistent look with all of our signage within the city,” she said.

The other project is visual identity. It includes updating the logos of city offices and the name change of the Idaho Falls Zoo.

“Tautphaus park for example. If you were a tourist and you heard the name Tautphaus park. Would you know it was in city of Idaho Falls? Let alone be able to pronounce Tautphaus park?” McCoullough said. “But for tourists outside of here that are coming in and guests heading to West Yellowstone, we want them to stop at the Idaho Falls Zoo.”

The visual identity project will tie each office logo with the city’s.

“We wanted to blend with the signage and way finding program that is citywide,” she said. “We wanted to tie the municipality in with the city signs so we are all united.”

Police vehicles will also be sporting the new logo as the city phases old vehicles out and brings in new ones.
The city of Idaho Falls doesn’t want to completely get rid of the city seal, it will still be used for proclamations and ordinances considered to be long-term official use.