South Euclid, Ohio, is a diverse and family-friendly inner-ring suburb of Cleveland that has demonstrated resilience and innovation in revitalizing its community. Following the economic downturn and housing crisis of 2008, the city took proactive steps to rebuild and reimagine its neighborhoods through sustainable redevelopment efforts. However, despite these initiatives, the city’s evolving story of growth and resilience was not being effectively communicated to residents, businesses, and prospective homebuyers.
Guide Studio partnered with South Euclid to develop a comprehensive branding strategy that would elevate the city’s identity, reinforce its commitment to sustainability and community connectivity, and reposition it as a progressive, forward-thinking municipality. The project began with a Discovery Workshop, bringing together key stakeholders—including residents, business owners, and community leaders—to uncover the city’s unique character, strengths, and aspirations. This collaborative approach laid the foundation for a compelling brand strategy, complete with a positioning statement, audience identification, and key messaging.
The visual identity development phase explored multiple design directions, each reflecting South Euclid’s core personality traits—connected, green, proactive, visionary, and welcoming. The chosen brand, accompanied by the tagline “Come Together & Thrive,” emphasizes the city’s vibrant community spirit, accessibility, and balanced approach to tradition and innovation.
The brand launch was strategically timed to coincide with the unveiling of South Euclid’s first Idea House, a sustainably built home on a formerly vacant lot, showcasing the city’s dedication to revitalization. Initial implementation efforts included a website landing page, social media integration, and branded vehicle decals. A year after launch, Guide Studio supported further brand activation through placemaking initiatives such as banners, neighborhood identifiers, and gateway signage, ensuring that the new identity was embedded within the city’s physical and digital landscape.
This branding initiative successfully positioned South Euclid as a community on the rise—leveraging its strengths to foster pride, attract new residents, and sustain long-term growth.
