GENESEE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT
A new logo takes flight.
Designer: Ronda Ramsey
Originally created in the ’80s without the use of
software, the letters in the logo for the Genesee
Intermediate School District (GISD) are hard to discern
at first glance. GISD doesn’t have many current
restrictions, such as budget or limited color options,
keeping it from moving into the new millennium.
“The existing logo doesn’t say anything about
us or our purpose,” laments GISD graphics specialist
Eileen Jackson. “It’s boring, outdated and doesn’t
visually represent the vibrancy, leadership and support
that is the pride of our organization. Recent
attempts at a redesign haven’t resulted in consensus
among the decision makers.”
One early attempt by designer Ronda Ramsey
explored a block shape similar to the existing logo,
but incorporated more modern letterforms that are
also more legible. Another design had the letters visually
represent a chain—since GISD works to support
students, parents and area schools within the county.
Ramsey’s final logo redesign uses the ubiquitous
font Times New Roman. To increase recognition, it
includes the complete name of the district. The name
is paired with an element representing both a book
and a butterfly.
“I wanted to express learning and blossoming,
and felt the butterfly/book element would easily do
this,” says Ramsey. “The element can be extracted
from the design and can stand alone to represent the
school district.”
The color palette works well for the student
audience it represents and also isn’t “too young or too
hip” to deter prominent members of the community
from taking the district or the work it does seriously.
“With this design, the logo can easily be
reproduced in black and white, and on billboards,
websites, letterhead, envelopes and business cards,”
explains Ramsey.
