North Aurora could have a new village logo and motto next month.
Trustees got their first look Monday at five proposed logo designs and mottos created by Rule 29 design studio in Geneva.They chose two designs and three mottos for further development, and will view the finished versions at the March 2 board meeting, said Village Administrator Steve Bosco.
Both the logo designs that made trustees’ final cut are bold stylizations of the Fox River and the State Street bridge, enclosed by either a circle or a seven-sided polygon.
“The first design has the bridge with the river and lines going to the horizon.It signifies, not just landmarks, but the village going into future. he circle symbolizes community,” said Justin Ahrens, Rule 29 principal and creative director, about the first option.
“The (polygon in the fifth option) stands for the village’s seven square miles of area, with the bridge over the river and the village name. These things are very symbolic of the village,” he said.
Trustees rejected three other designs including one depicting Chicago’s skyline on the east.
“I don’t see putting the Chicago skyline on a logo for a village that’s 40 miles away from the city,” asserted Trustee Laura Curtis. “Chicago has nothing to do with North Aurora.”
Ahrens explained that the design was meant to illustrate the village’s connection to the city through Interstate 88.
Connections formed the main theme of the five proposed mottos.Trustees chose three for further consideration: “Crossroads on the Fox;” “A community, connected;” and “A village that connects”. They rejected “The crossing of community and nature” and “Where nature and culture connect.”
“I like ‘A village that connects,'” said Village President Dale Berman. “It says so much about North Aurora.”
The board will evaluate the three mottos still in the running, as well as color renderings of the two remaining logo designs, at the March 2 Committee of the Whole meeting. Trustees could approve a choice March 16 or request new options.
Officials do not plan to collect residents’ opinions on the choices.
“We want to keep this within the board,” Bosco explained. “These people were elected by the residents to lead, so they should be the ones to make this decision.”