Municipal Branding
West Chester Township, OH

Project Overview

West Chester is a strong township with a positive community standing; however, its existing brand didn’t reflect its current, more refined character. Recognizing the importance of municipal branding to its continued success, the township sought to align its visual identity with its healthy economy and stellar reputation. West Chester felt the pressure to maintain a positive trajectory as it charted its growth, while also addressing the challenge of updating the many branded elements around the city, including permanent structures such as sidewalks and the iconic clock tower. The objective was to update West Chester’s traditional brand and identity to match modern sophistication.

West Chester’s refreshed look, a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, serves as a testament to the township’s adaptability. The Communications team, a cornerstone of this transformation, eagerly began implementing a comprehensive communications roadmap. This roadmap enabled them to effectively engage with diverse audiences, aligning each group with their preferred distribution channels and impactful messaging.

A detailed brand change-out plan was devised to help the township update and replace all materials, signs, and areas around the city that bore the old brand. This step-by-step approach ensured a seamless transition to the new brand, leaving no trace of the old one.

This municipal branding initiative has not only modernized West Chester’s visual identity but also ensured that the township’s character and values are consistently communicated, fostering a sense of pride and unity among residents and stakeholders alike.

Project Scope

Place Branding

  • Community Engagement
  • Brand Assessment
  • Positioning
  • Identity System Design
  • Implementation Planning

 

Signage & Wayfinding

  • Experience Audit & Assessment
  • Wayfinding Strategy & Planning
  • Signage Design & Documentation

“We were really pleased with the process. Guide Studio was accessible, creative, and open to our suggestions and input. They also did a great job walking through the process and speaking with our elected officials, which is important.

They were good advocates for our goals. They heard what we were saying—and that’s what you want from any company you work with. You want to know that they’re listening to you, listening to our focus groups, and that they can take all that information and come back with a product that feels like your community.”

 

Barbara Wilson

Director of Public Information and Engagement