Benson Creative District

brand identity

2022-2023

The Benson Creative District aims to advance creativity and the economic vitality in the historic Benson community. The vision is to elevate artists, amplify Benson’s creative spirit, and serve as a hub for creative enterprise and expression in the Midwest.

“Though Benson has served as a creative hub for the past decade+, this official designation allows us to grow those efforts by providing even more creative programming, projects, and place making that is representative of our community, and can be enjoyed by everyone.”

AC was tasked with developing a brand identity that would capture the authentic spirit of Benson while establishing a strong, cohesive, and professional visual language for the Benson Creative District.

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As residents of Benson, we were thrilled with the opportunity to develop this brand identity. The process was thorough and collaborative, working with the BCD committee, BFF Omaha, and Benson community members.

Community input during the brainstorming phase yielded key words and concepts that set the tone for the theme of the project moving forward:

  • patchwork

  • full spectrum

  • safe space

  • diversity

  • FUN

  • renaissance/rebirth

  • variety (music, theatre, film, visual arts)

  • welcoming/accepting

  • DIY

  • small biz

Our direction was to create a strong, identifiable brand for the Benson Creative District that encompasses these concepts and represents the community. These concepts were pared down to three specific goals:

  • professional, but not corporate

  • fun and authentic 

  • historically based but modern

Based off the concepts presented by the community and the three goals we’d identified, we then developed an identity statement consisting of three parts:

BOLD

Benson is bold. Our community is bright and vibrant. We're loud, proud, and hard to miss. Our community stands out. Our colors do, too.

INSPIRED

Benson is inspired. Our community is historic. From the bison roaming this land long ago to the passionate creatives roaming the streets on a First Friday now, Benson’s heritage is strong. Our past creates our present, inspiring our future.

AUTHENTIC

Benson is authentic. Our community is unique. A diamond in the rough. A place of art, self expression, and passion. Be yourself. Get weird. Create.

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