City of South Bend
Civic Identity & Public Design
The City of South Bend, Indiana continues to invest in public spaces, community identity, and civic celebration through thoughtfully designed initiatives and events.
Working within the City of South Bend’s Venues Parks & Arts team, Rutendo Jairosi of Jairosi Graphic Design contributed to a series of projects that shaped how the city communicates milestones, celebrates its history, and enhances public spaces.
These projects span civic identity, anniversary branding, and environmental design, each created to connect with the community at scale.
The Challenge
Across multiple initiatives, the goal was to create visual systems that:
Honored the city’s history while feeling current and forward-looking
Aligned with existing city branding and recognizable elements
Translated across public spaces, events, and communications
Engaged a broad and diverse audience
Each project required balancing consistency with uniqueness, ensuring designs felt connected to the city while remaining distinct to their specific moment or space.
The Approach
The design approach focused on evolving existing visual language rather than replacing it.
By drawing from established logos, colors, and recognizable elements, each system was designed to feel familiar yet refreshed — reinforcing civic identity while marking new milestones.
For environmental applications, the work emphasized clarity, visibility, and seasonal adaptability, ensuring designs could function effectively in real-world outdoor settings.
Projects
South Bend 160th Anniversary
A commemorative logo was developed to celebrate the city’s 160th anniversary, drawing from the existing city mark to maintain continuity.
The design was applied across city-wide materials and communications, creating a unified visual presence for the milestone celebration.
Howard Park 125th Anniversary
A dedicated anniversary logo was created for Howard Park, one of the city’s most beloved public spaces.
The design built on the park’s existing identity, creating a mark that felt both celebratory and rooted in the park’s legacy as a central gathering place for the community.
Seitz Park Reopening
Following major renovations, Seitz Park reopened as a revitalized public destination along the St. Joseph River. A series of flagpole banners was designed to mark the reopening, featuring seasonal visuals representing all four seasons.
The system was created to evolve throughout the year, reinforcing the park as a dynamic, year-round space for community activity and events.
Design System
Across all three projects, the work emphasized:
Alignment with existing civic identity
Clarity and visibility in public environments
Flexibility across formats and applications
A balance of heritage and contemporary design
The result is a collection of visual systems that feel both cohesive and adaptable, supporting the city’s broader communication efforts.
Outcome
The designs contributed to a more unified and engaging civic presence across multiple initiatives.
They supported:
Clear and recognizable milestone celebrations
Enhanced visibility for public spaces and events
Stronger alignment between city identity and community experience