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Cuyahoga County Unveils New County Seal
Media contacts:
Rich Luchette, (216) 797-0931
Trevor McAleer, (216) 698-6472
CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County announced today a new seal that will be placed on the Cuyahoga County Administrative Headquarters, located at the corner of East 9th Street and Prospect Avenue. Cuyahoga County worked with the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) to create and design a seal that is a reflection of the county’s background. The new county seal will be phased in over time.
County Councilman Mike Gallagher said, “Since this new form of government was established, the County has sought to begin a fresh start, including the adoption of a newly designed County seal. In a collaborative effort with the administration, Council charged students at the Cleveland Institute of Art to design a logo that represents the strength and diversity of the County. Mr. Nolan Beck, a very talented student at CIA, submitted the winning design that we are proud to reveal today.”
“We’re proud to announce that we’ve worked collaboratively with County Council and the Cleveland Institute of Art to create a new seal, which symbolizes our continuous progress in Cuyahoga County,” said County Executive Ed FitzGerald. “We were very impressed with all of the designs submitted by the CIA students, with Nolan Beck’s design prevailing and impressively depicting our county’s many strengths and assets.”
The seal is broken up into four sections and each section represents a significant piece of what makes Cuyahoga County a great place to live and work.
Beck is a graphic design major, entering his senior year this fall. This summer he is serving as an intern in the Cleveland office of VOCON, an architecture and interior design firm.
“I decided to use iconography that would represent different aspects of what makes Cuyahoga County important,” said Beck. “It was a challenge to pull together the simple icons and make them look cohesive, but I focused on using things that society finds instantly recognizable. The cog around the perimeter signifies industry and, unintentionally, made the seal look more seal-like, as if it’s the outline of a ribbon.”
Larry O’Neal, assistant professor and chair of CIA’s Graphic Design Department, made this an assignment for his Advanced Studio Class during the fall 2013 semester. “The County wanted the seal to represent the county as a whole and depict some of our great assets like the lake, and the river, and the Emerald Necklace,” said O’Neal. “Nolan got a grasp of what the clients wanted quickly. We are proud of him as a student.”
About CIA Founded in 1882, the Cleveland Institute of Art is an accredited, independent college of art and design offering 15 majors in studio art, digital art, craft disciplines, and design. CIA extends its programming to the public through gallery exhibitions; lectures; a robust continuing education program; and the Cinematheque, a year-round art and independent film program. CIA’s public programming is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. For more information visit cia.edu.
Rich Luchette, (216) 797-0931
Trevor McAleer, (216) 698-6472
CLEVELAND – Cuyahoga County announced today a new seal that will be placed on the Cuyahoga County Administrative Headquarters, located at the corner of East 9th Street and Prospect Avenue. Cuyahoga County worked with the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) to create and design a seal that is a reflection of the county’s background. The new county seal will be phased in over time.
County Councilman Mike Gallagher said, “Since this new form of government was established, the County has sought to begin a fresh start, including the adoption of a newly designed County seal. In a collaborative effort with the administration, Council charged students at the Cleveland Institute of Art to design a logo that represents the strength and diversity of the County. Mr. Nolan Beck, a very talented student at CIA, submitted the winning design that we are proud to reveal today.”
“We’re proud to announce that we’ve worked collaboratively with County Council and the Cleveland Institute of Art to create a new seal, which symbolizes our continuous progress in Cuyahoga County,” said County Executive Ed FitzGerald. “We were very impressed with all of the designs submitted by the CIA students, with Nolan Beck’s design prevailing and impressively depicting our county’s many strengths and assets.”
The seal is broken up into four sections and each section represents a significant piece of what makes Cuyahoga County a great place to live and work.
- Water – Represents one of our most valuable natural resources. Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River are important for their role in our day-to-day lives, supporting commerce and travel, while providing food and enjoyment for residents and tourists.
- Leaf – Represents another important natural resource that defines our region – trees, parks and forests. The city has the nickname “Forest City” due to the beautiful parks and forests throughout the area.
- Life Line – Represents Northeast Ohio’s strength in healthcare. For decades we have been the leader in the healthcare industry thanks to the major health care institutions and technologies in the region. With the opening of the Global Center for Health Innovation, our region is becoming known the nation’s Medical Capital.
- Bridge – Represents the skill and engineering used to create the various bridges within the region that allow passage over the various landscapes throughout the area.
- Cog – The cog on the seal was designed to represent a gear, illustrating the rich history and vital roles the region has played and is currently playing in manufacturing.
Beck is a graphic design major, entering his senior year this fall. This summer he is serving as an intern in the Cleveland office of VOCON, an architecture and interior design firm.
“I decided to use iconography that would represent different aspects of what makes Cuyahoga County important,” said Beck. “It was a challenge to pull together the simple icons and make them look cohesive, but I focused on using things that society finds instantly recognizable. The cog around the perimeter signifies industry and, unintentionally, made the seal look more seal-like, as if it’s the outline of a ribbon.”
Larry O’Neal, assistant professor and chair of CIA’s Graphic Design Department, made this an assignment for his Advanced Studio Class during the fall 2013 semester. “The County wanted the seal to represent the county as a whole and depict some of our great assets like the lake, and the river, and the Emerald Necklace,” said O’Neal. “Nolan got a grasp of what the clients wanted quickly. We are proud of him as a student.”
About CIA Founded in 1882, the Cleveland Institute of Art is an accredited, independent college of art and design offering 15 majors in studio art, digital art, craft disciplines, and design. CIA extends its programming to the public through gallery exhibitions; lectures; a robust continuing education program; and the Cinematheque, a year-round art and independent film program. CIA’s public programming is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. For more information visit cia.edu.
