The Kentucky Heritage Council commission representing the Indigenous people of Kentucky could be getting a new look soon. A new logo and color scheme for the Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission would draw inspiration from Indigenous art works.
Kelly Berger, a commission member, said Imagewest, a design group consisting primarily of Western Kentucky University students, has been working hard to modernize the commission’s branding.
“They looked at different pieces of pottery, different archaeological clay tablets, and other Indigenous items that had been found here in Kentucky. So, they were representative of the ancestral land tribes that have lived in Kentucky. And they sort of used those design motifs all throughout everything they are proposing,” Berger said.
The centerpiece of the brand is a new turtle logo and native themed font that displays the commission’s name. Also included were business card designs, slide show backgrounds, kid friendly posters each revolving around a Native American hero, and a brand mission video.
Venus Evans, a Native American on the commission, seconded the motion to continue to partner with the design team.
“This is very, very, impressive and such amazing talent from young folks and their eagerness to explore and learn and to include, it was just awesome. I hope to have more interaction with them during this process,” Evans said.
Evans said the current turtle logo and design is at least 15 years old, and fellow commission members agreed it is time to modernize.
The students worked with an Indigenous graphic designer to authentically create Indigenous aesthetics without being appropriative. Officials added students worked in dialogue with Indigenous communities to produce culturally responsible design work.
The work was done for free and the Kentucky Native American Heritage Commission voted unanimously to continue the partnership with Imagewest.