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Bowie Brand Development
Introduction
Over the last year, we’ve talked to hundreds of residents and businesses across Bowie to better understand and define, 'who we are, what makes us great, and why people can, and should, choose Bowie to live, work, play, and invest'.
We’ve put together a draft ‘brand story’ that touches on some of what we heard, and soon we’ll be introducing a new look and feel for Bowie marketing and communications that will bring this refreshed story to life in a powerful new way.
There will be much more to come, but at this point we want to share our progress and receive some feedback from the community before making final refinements and tailoring specific messages for marketing and other uses. We also want to make sure the updated visuals resonate with the many communities that make up our great city.
Your input is vital. Please help by taking a few moments to:
- View the background of this project and read about some of the key findings
- Read our refreshed story
- View the refreshed designs
- Share your feedback
Background
Did you know that the City of Bowie’s official seal was created as a result of a contest in the 1960s to create a seal for the growing city? The designs of three finalists were combined into the seal we still use today.
Since that time, we have mostly relied on that seal to represent the City of Bowie in publications, official actions, and in many other types of uses. Over the last several years there has been growing emphasis on:
- Marketing Bowie to potential businesses and residents
- Doing a better job of telling Bowie’s story and talking about the city in consistent language
- Creating a less formal design for designating or branding something as coming from or being about the City of Bowie in more casual events or settings, like other local governments in the region have done.
Official Seal | Logo |
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Research and Gathering Input
We enlisted the help of branding experts to guide us through this process. Over the last year, they have done research and assessments about Bowie and have interviewed and surveyed residents, businesses, leaders, activities and other local groups about what they value about our city.
From this research and input, they compiled a list of characteristics that describe Bowie. They logically fell into three categories that are listed below as brand pillars.
Describing Today's Bowie
Family-centered roots for tomorrow | Built by neighbors; working for all | Home base for growing residents |
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We learned a lot from residents, businesses, and others about how people viewed Bowie and what people liked about our city. Some of the things we heard repeatedly were that they loved the strong sense of community here, the caring and involved neighbors, Bowie's location at the center of the DC, Baltimore, and Annapolis region, and the many opportunities here for all to thrive and flourish.
Growing well comes naturally here…
For business, this is the axis point linking DC, Baltimore and Annapolis. Our suburban haven is home base for professionals and independent enterprises attracted by Bowie’s well-educated, affluent workforce. Having Bowie State University on our doorstep, combined with the city’s Business Innovation Center (a renowned accelerator for companies and contractors), and our business-savvy development programs all fuel a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment for growth.
Families of all types – multi-generational to newly hatched – grow deep roots here. The variety of housing options, public and private schools, quality retail, health facilities, greenspaces and exceptional recreation options are all obvious attractors. But what truly sets Bowie apart is how it’s built by, and for, neighbors. Inclusivity is the lifeblood of the Bowie spirit that welcomes everyone to our diverse neighborhoods and communities that, together, embrace 70+ religious and spiritual centers and numerous international groups.
Healthy tomorrows – for people and business – start with meaningful commitments to growing well. You see it in our investments in programs for youth and older residents, including our nationally accredited Senior Center. It’s evident in Bowie’s sustainability initiatives: our city-owned solar farm; electric fleet; electric vehicle charging stations; and a host of other initiatives to keep our community resilient and green. Bowie’s reputation as one of Maryland’s safest cities is rooted in our highly successful community-based policing.
We’re a community of players, in every sense. It’s easy to optimize work/life balance with the range of parks, trails and recreation options steps away. Bowie tops Maryland rankings in sports fields per capita! There’s plenty of action on tap with Bowie Baysox AA baseball and the new Liberty Sports Park. Festivals and heritage events bring us together throughout the year to celebrate the wealth of our cultural traditions.
Find your place among a dynamic mix of business and community neighbors… ideally located at a regional axis point… that’s working continuously to ensure everyone – kids to seniors, residents to enterprises – has the supports they need to grow healthy roots here for more resilient tomorrows.
Bowie, Maryland
We’ve created a new design that we think represents the vibrancy and uniqueness of Bowie. The new look will be part of a larger effort to tell Bowie’s story – to potential businesses and homebuyers, and to bring consistency and pride to all of Bowie’s outreach and marketing.
Please keep in mind that this design will not replace the seal that will continue to be used for all official purposes. This logo is a marketing brand that will be used to help promote Bowie, both internally to our residents and communities, as well as to visitors, businesses and investors. It’s a more ‘casual’ look to help promote city celebrations, local businesses, etc.
Design Inspiration
Inspiration for the design came from Bowie's location at the center of the DC/Baltimore region and the many colors and lines represent how people and neighborhoods are woven together into a single Bowie community.
We learned a lot from residents, businesses, and others about how people viewed Bowie and what people liked about our city. Some of the things we heard repeatedly were that they loved the strong sense of community here, the caring and involved neighbors, Bowie's location at the center of the DC, Baltimore, and Annapolis region, and the many opportunities here for all to thrive and flourish.
Logos
Based on the feedback, what emerged is a set of design recommendations that are positive, vibrant and reflect the diversity of the community. We invite you to look through the logo variations below.
Applications
Here is just a few examples of how we might introduce and integrate the newly refreshed brand.
Now that you've read the back story and seen how Bowie can described and promoted, we'd appreciate your feedback. Please answer a few questions and let us know if you have a favorite design or use example.
We invite your comments or feedback.
Please email publicinfo@cityofbowie.org.