At the recent close of Akron's Bicentennial celebrations, Mayor Shammas Malik officially unveiled the city's new logo, a design conceived by local Akron firm Pritt Entertainment Group and the result of extensive community contribution. As reported by the City of Akron, the design process was highly collaborative, incorporating direct feedback from over 2,000 respondents in the community.
Mayor Malik cited that "every element of this design is a direct result of the feedback received throughout this process," affirming hopes that the logo will serve to unify and rally the community according to the City of Akron. The new logo, which replaces the former "Rubberworker" emblem, brings together Akron's heritage and vision with features like a blimp, urban skyline, and natural elements. These symbols are not merely aesthetic but are to fundamentally represent the city's spirit and resiliency.
The design team, assigned by a subcommittee formed earlier this year, was chosen after an open call for proposals that yielded 21 submissions from across and beyond the state. Local engagement was significant in the selection process, including collaboration with the Akron Black Artists Guild and several other community organizations focused on ensuring a wide pool of artistic talent could contribute to the city’s new visual representation.
Pritt Entertainment Group, the awarded firm, used the extensive community feedback to iteratively refine their designs, with the final choice reflecting 5,735 data points collected regarding public preference. "Concept 3 was the clear favorite based on the community’s input," according to the city's announcement on the matter. The logo wasn't forged in isolation but sculpted through engagement sessions and consultations with a wide array of residents—affirming a commitment to inclusivity and attention to nuanced local input.
The final design, featuring nods to Akron’s high points in manufacturing, innovation, and natural beauty, includes "The City of Akron Established 1825" in a mix of script and print, with colors selected by the community. Below the title, the new emblem boasts an Akron blimp, the buckeye tree, a city skyline, waterways, and a blue heron. These elements aim to depict Akron as a place of growth, nature, innovation, and revitalized environment, not simply a city rising, but also one that is conscious of its past and optimistic about its future trajectory.
This rebranding initiative, which allocated $50,000 from the city’s 2025 budget for the design and an updated branding guide, signifies a tangible pivot toward progressive visuals that will be rolled out across digital platforms, with physical implementation to follow through attrition. This strategy is designed to provide a seamless transition from old to new and serve as a foundation for the city’s evolving identity, as well as show fiscal responsibility by avoiding additional funding for the update.
