FARMINGTON—Everyone knows that first impressions are important in any situation: whether it’s a job interview, meeting the in-laws, or the first time at a new restaurant, these are the impressions that stick with people. For cities, it's really no different. 

Many times, the first impression people get of a city is by driving through it. They can see the residential neighborhoods, the historic districts, local businesses and more in a matter of minutes. From that, many people feel like they can get a general sense of what the city is about, whether it’s safe or not, and if it’s a place that they feel like they want to visit.

That’s certainly not all that people look at either. Whether they realize it or not, people notice when design is off or outdated. A city could have brand-new police cars, but if the city logo or branding on the car is 40 years old, the car itself starts to look outdated. The same can be said for things like official correspondence, or even a city’s website.

How does a city go about changing its official logo and branding? With the help of an organization like Redkor Brand Campaigns. With an impressive resume including private institutions like Deseret Book, Norbest, Kneaders and more, and city branding for places like Provo, Springville, Logan and others, it’s no wonder Farmington City chose them.

Rushford Lee, partner/owner of Redkor Brand Campaigns, explained just how that process works, and unsurprisingly, it’s detailed, thoughtful and involved. “We try to engage as many citizens as we can (in the process,” said Lee, explaining that one of the first things they ask residents is, “Tell us why you love Farmington so much?”

Lee and his group take special care to really find out what makes each city or organization unique and special and incorporate that into their design. The challenge, however, for a city like Farmington, is to find imagery and design that works city-wide, “ (it has to be) something you can read from a distance,” and applied to everything from letterhead to city vehicles and everything in between.

With as wide and varied as Farmington is, how could they settle on just one image? Lee explained that they start with a wide range, and whittle it down to what speaks to most people involved, “Farmington is a great city with great heritage,” he said, citing stories Redkor was told about the beautiful old-growth trees in the city, that were lovingly planted and maintained years ago, and now are one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. 

Lee also praised Farmington city administration, saying that the city does a fantastic job of preserving its heritage, while still encouraging growth, because, “(cities) have to grow!” This new branding campaign, which has been approved by the city, is just one more step in the right direction for Farmington, with its juxtaposition of beautiful historic homes, and its modern amenities like Station Park.