Students Compete to Design New Franklin Lakes Logo

Since December of 2013, Graphic Design students at Indian Hills Regional High School have been developing logos for their biggest client yet, the Borough of Franklin Lakes. 

Students in the Graphic Design II classes taught by Kimberly Batti were tasked by the Borough Administrator, Gregory Hart, to create a new logo for the Borough. After meeting with their client, each student worked tirelessly through the creative process to present the Borough with professional designs. 

Two student proposals were then selected by the Franklin Lakes’ Webteam to be further developed. Over several months IHHS Sophomores Shannon Petty and Fredrick Mazzelli revised and refined their logo designs based on provided feedback. 

Their efforts were rewarded on June 5 when the Franklin Lakes’ Mayor and Council unanimously agreed to approve one of the designs as the new Franklin Lakes logo based on the feedback of the public. The proposed logo designs will be available in the near future through an on-line survey form for the public to vote on.

“Incorporating real-world practices into the classroom environment impacts the students’ learning experiences in a very positive way. These types of authentic activities provide high school students with strong motivation to take their work to new heights,” Batti said. 

Graphic Design projects challenge students to research, develop, and refine visual designs by communicating an intended meaning through image and text. Projects in the Graphic Design courses range from visual identity projects, packaging, poster designs and advertisement.

For this design challenge, students experienced the entire design process that a professional designer would work through. Classes met with their client, researched the history of Franklin Lakes and collaboratively brainstormed before sketching a series of images that would be developed into a polished logo design in Adobe Illustrator. 

One of the many challenges of developing a successful logo design is that the logo must have visual impact and identify the brand within a limited space. In addition to the technical restrictions of a logo design, students must also please the client by adapting the designs to meet the needs of the client; this is no small task. 

At times the creative process can feel quite frustrating, but the final product is worth the process. 

“It was a great experience to work on a project for a professional client because it gave us a taste of the real-world excitement of being a designer,” Petty said.