From the Town of Huntsville
In partnership with TWG Communications, the Town of Huntsville is pleased to share that the new Community Brand, soon to be rolled out, received silver in the ‘Complete Branding Campaign category’ at the 2023 Summit International Awards. The new community brand received international recognition from more than 3,900 entries from over 28 countries.
Now in its 29th year, the Summit Creative Award recognizes creative excellence, celebrating innovative approaches and compelling executions of branding work.
“This recognition highlights the power of the new community brand,” said Lisa Spolnik, Huntsville’s Manager of Marketing and Communications. “This is such great news for the community and what a fantastic way to start off the New Year.”
This year’s panel of judges, representing over a dozen countries across five continents, evaluated entries in 16 major categories. Their blind judging process aimed to recognize inventive concepts, impactful user experiences, and effective communication.
Town of Huntsville staff, as well as members from various community groups, including the Downtown Huntsville BIA, Huntsville Municipal Accommodation Tax Association (HMATA), and the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce, worked alongside Marketing Agency TWG Communications to develop the new community brand. The look, feel and colour block of the new Huntsville Community brand is the direct result of extensive consultation and will be launched in 2024.
“The new brand was designed with a sense of placemaking in mind, including economic development, resident and investment attraction, tourism and wayfinding”, noted Lauren MacDermid, Huntsville’s Economic Development Officer. “We can’t wait for our community partners to begin using the new branding, it offers a modern, fresh look and feel for Huntsville while still embracing the past.”
With the HMATA group recently selected as the Town’s Destination Management Marketing Organization, the Town looks forward to implementing the new brand for Huntsville in external marketing. The Town will retain its current corporate logo for municipal government communications.
“We’re excited to launch this brand to help position Huntsville as a recognizable destination and inspire year-round sustainable growth of our visitor economy. We are working with our local and regional partners to motivate visitors to enjoy our unique brand of community hospitality and Muskoka experiences,” says Kelly Haywood, HMATA Executive Director. “This is a well-deserved award. The team worked hard on ensuring we’d have something distinctive, authentic, progressive, modern, clean, simple, and vibrant. The colours reflect our seasons, forests, lakes and waterways, it’s simple and well-designed and we’re going to put it to great use ensuring that Huntsville is on the map.”
For more information about the community brand and the Town of Huntsville’s tourism and economic development initiatives, please visit www.huntsville.ca or contact the Town’s Economic Development Officer.
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I am happy to see most comments do not support this new initiative.
I still believe that the present logo inspires what Huntsville and all of Muskoka is all about, rocks trees and water.
Time to listen to those who live and love our town.
John Finley
Sorry to be snarky but when I saw this award winning design I thought it had been created by a scrapbooking group not design professionals! There’s no way that design represents the beauty and majesty of Muskoka.
I have to agree with the majority of comments that have already been posted. I find the design of this logo very pedestrian and unimaginative! It appears like it could’ve been AI generated. My two cents worth!
This represents Huntsville in no way. It is a hodge podge of bits and colours. Sort of representative of the lack of direction or purpose our town is wandering toward.
Lord!!! Can’t imagine what it would have looked like if it had won gold!!
But here it is and we’re stuck with it. I guess if you coughed up the money, only fair you choke down the lunch.
Pretty sure I’m no fan of this lack of effort or imagination. Reminds me of bell bottom patterns of the 70’s. Wheren’t we a picture? But it wore off quickly. But this we’ll get to wear.
Didn’t see any problem with what we had. Change for the sake of change?
As if there isn’t anything else that needs attention.
Guess that’s just me.
Frankly it is boring. Just the same hi-tech look as many websites. It has no depth, No substance. I feel like in Muskoka we are always for sale, catering to attract tourists selling to the highest bidder. My previous comments missed my last name.
Can’t say I’m a huge fan of this, in fact, I actively dislike it. Regardless of any awards, it really doesn’t speak to the culture, history, or character of our community. The town should embrace the branding they already have, and invest in signage for our parks, trails, streets, and businesses. I’d like to see the town stop trying to be ‘something new’ and be proud our history and ‘muskoka charm’
I feel the latest ‘awards’ presented to the town are meaningless. Digging downtown won an award despite being over budget, running late, having multiple quality control issues, and not representing the original plans and vision.
Celebrate mediocrity it you must, but this new branding fails to excite my love for this place.
I think it is ugly, no heart, no soul, not Muskoka.
I love this logo and I’m so proud it won! It evokes modernity, lakes trees and skies, and is legible and accessible. A great logo to be proud of.
I remember when this was first suggested and a lot of the town folk did not like it. Its not very muskoka looking. It didnt get my vote.