Huntington, IN – The Huntington County Community School Corporation (HCCSC) is moving forward with a significant branding initiative aimed at enhancing its image and fostering community pride. A recent work session, led by Ben Gregory, Vice President of Strategy at Brand Innovation Group (BIG), and Kenny Butler, HCCSC’s Director of Marketing & Communications, focused on creating a cohesive brand identity for the district. This effort is centered on communicating the excellence within the school system and encouraging families to see Huntington County as a premier destination for education.
The initiative includes the development of new logo designs, mascots, a unified color palette, consistent font usage across the district, and key elements that bring connections to every part of the community. One of the key discussions involved the choice between using an "H" or "HN" in the branding for Huntington North, with the importance of making a decision soon as it affects upcoming projects like web page design. The group acknowledged the benefits of the "H" logo for its simplicity and recognizability, regardless of orientation, but noted ongoing debates about other aspects of the branding, such as the design of school mascots and logos.
The session addressed the challenge of finding suitable monogram logos for Huntington North High School and other schools within the district. Stakeholders, including parents retired teachers, and community members have provided feedback, expressing preferences for certain designs while rejecting others, such as a Viking helmet-styled monogram that some felt was too cartoonish. Discussions are ongoing to ensure that the final designs reflect the district's identity and are embraced by the community.
One specific point of contention was the mascot for Salamonie School. The current cowboy-themed logo was not well-received by most, with many feeling it did not accurately represent the school's identity. This has led to further discussions about what the mascot should be, with the community encouraged to provide input to help resolve this issue.
In terms of district-wide branding, a new logo was presented that symbolizes the unity of the nine schools within the HCCSC. However, opinions were mixed, with some board members and attendees feeling that the design, while conceptually strong, lacked an immediate association with education. The logo was described as resembling a "Rubik’s Cube" or having a business-like appearance, leading to further discussions about whether it adequately conveys the district's educational mission.
Despite the challenges, there is optimism that the rebranding effort will ultimately succeed in creating a unified and proud identity for HCCSC. The board expressed support for the initiative, recognizing the potential for the new branding to better communicate the district's values and achievements to the broader community. Further refinement and input from the community are expected as the branding elements continue to be developed.