This Winter Quarter, University of Chicago College (UChicago) students put their design skills and knowledge of the Chicago area to the test in Chicago Studies' Chicago Neighborhood Logo Contest.
Inspired by local artist Steve Shanabruch's Chicago Neighborhood Project, a 2011 logo collection that represented the history and culture of approximately 115 recognized neighborhoods in the city, Chicago Studies invited students to create their own neighborhood designs.
Chicago Studies’ mission, exemplified by this contest, is to build collaborations between the College and the city through innovative curricular offerings, a robust range of support for Chicago-centric undergraduate research, a variety of curricular and extracurricular events, and civic and educational partnerships around the city.
Students submitted their designs to be judged by both a panel of judges and followers of the Chicago Studies Instagram account in a ‘people's choice showdown,’ including Shanabruch, who also led a virtual logo design workshop hosted by Chicago Studies in January.
The top entry from each neighborhood entered the competition's final round. The winners were Sophie Rydzewski, who won the judging panel's top prize for her River North logo, and Noel Garcia, who won the Instagram vote for his Pullman logo.
The winning logos and the honorable mentions, as well as what inspired each student to create designs for the neighborhood(s) they chose, follow.
First-prize winners
Student: Sophie Rydzewski | Neighborhood: River North
"A couple of days before the contest deadline, I got a call from UChicago Student Wellness informing me I had tested positive for COVID-19. I duly packed up my little suitcase and chose to spend my isolation downtown in Chicago’s River North neighborhood for six days. As time went on, I took to sitting by the window of the apartment like a cat on a windowsill, desperate for entertainment.
"Each and every detail included in this logo is an element from my daily view, from church steeples to balcony lights. I spent six whole days squinting at streetlamps and figuring out how to squish them into an R. As soon as I was able to leave, I made sure to try out all the fabulous restaurants in the neighborhood, from Marchesa to Etta, that I saw from my window during isolation."
Student: Noel Garcia | Neighborhood: Pullman
"In a field trip for Nootan Bharani’s Architecture of Memory studio course which I took in Winter 2021, I was made aware of the Pullman Community Area and its complex and extensive manufacturing history – a concept still made present through the impressive Administrative Building and the Hotel Florence. The class and I visited the company town, a beautiful and historic town that I can only describe as something out of a movie set. Bonus: This was also one of the first in-person activities we had as a class so it was really fun to be out in the wild."
Honorable mentions
Student: Brandon Limary | Neighborhood: EastGarfield Park
"I first visited Garfield Park during a Career Advancement Trek during my first year and have made frequent visits ever since. My experience in East Garfield Park has been centered around the Conservatory, which is a must-see spot whenever family and friends come to town. For me, the Conservatory's position within the greater surrounding area is a superb example of accessible and welcoming green space within predominantly Black and Brown communities and is one I hope to see happening in other neighborhoods as well."
"I was drawn to the neighborhood by its name, as I am currently learning Spanish. I wanted to pick a font that was beautiful, to display its name as a focal point. The colors and flowers are inspired by Mexican color palettes, and juxtaposed with the black they remind me of Dia de Los Muertos images.
"The scene's inspiration came from the Hermosa Underpass, a gorgeous mosaic that displays Walt Disney's childhood house and other history relevant to the neighborhood. I tried to piece the graphic image together like a mosaic.
"The mountains represent what others think the Midwest and its smaller neighborhoods do not have – though they may be flat, and perhaps not as flashy, they are the birthplace of giants like Walt Disney, who had a monumental impact. The creation of this image inspired me to appreciate the small communities that may not be common tourist destinations, but have so much to offer the world."
Student: Noel Garcia | Neighborhoods: South Lawndale, South Chicago, O'Hare
Student: Angelysse Madsen | Neighborhood: Wicker Park
