Newsletter from South Haven Center for the Arts

Graphic designer Roberta Richardson says she was pleased to have been selected as the artist for the new logo design for the South Haven Center for the Arts. "I was flattered to be chosen among such talented company," says Richardson, who was the only contestant to attend the organization's Annual Meeting (in December) where the voting took place. "The other Art Center members didn't know I was one of the contestants so it was fun to see all of the designs and hear member reaction."

"We had many talented applicants including a young man around 10-years of age," says Marie Maguire, Executive Director for the South Haven Center for the Arts. "We had a lot of good designs to choose from."

Maguire says the former logo served the art center well, yet she and others were perplexed because people couldn't tell what it was or what it stood for. "I heard many different answers." On that note she, with the board, decided to reach out to the public with a logo contest. "We wanted our new logo to integrate all the art forms," says Maguire.

Richardson's original design included a drawing of the art center exterior. Maguire, with input from the board and members, decided the design needed to be expanded so Richardson went back to the drawing board and created a design with an S for South Haven depicting symbols of theatre, music, and visual art. For Maguire the new design better symbolized the art center's vision and direction. "It has the S of South Haven, the movement of water, and a flow from one art form into another." says Maguire. After further discussion with the board and more input from individual members, the changed design was finalized.

Richardson, a grandmother, recently moved from Illinois with her family to build their dream home in South Haven. She earned her Masters in communication studies and public relations publications. "I designed internal publications for a hospital system in Illinois that included graphics and writing. "I taught myself computer graphics," says Richardson. "Now I do more with computer graphics." Richardson, as contest winner, received $100.

Maguire says, Richardson's "original and much admired designs will not be lost; we hope to use one of them on a bumper sticker advertising the Art Center with the slogan Discover What's Inside." The new logo has influenced the redesign of art center's new website. Presently the new logo is on the web, art center stationery, post cards and business cards. It will be about a three month transition before the new logo is completely in use.