Writer / Josh Duke
Photography Provided
Filled with plenty of color, a prominent “200” with a torch and three hills representing the waterways, fields and roadways of Hendricks County, John Johansson’s clean design was selected as the symbol of next year’s bicentennial celebration.
Johansson, who lives in Danville with his wife, Anne, and two daughters, is no stranger to logo designs, having previously created graphics for The Children’s Ballet, Downtown Danville Partnership and Main Street Plainfield. His logo was among 38 designs submitted to the 12-member Hendricks County Bicentennial Steering Committee.
“We were both stunned and thrilled by the number and quality of the entries,” says Pat Baldwin, co-chair of the steering committee. “This was not an easy decision. There were several submissions that could have served as our bicentennial logo.”
Johansson says he wanted to come up with a bright, aspirational design that would represent the whole county and its history, without focusing on a specific town or landmark. Here’s how he described the logo on his submission form:
“The rolling green bands represent Hendricks County’s forests and parks; the blue, our streams; the yellow, our fields; the black, our county’s contributions to transportation and racing; the red outer circle, the tribes who first hunted and fished this land. The torch embodies our community spirit, and our role in Indiana’s history. The gold ribbon celebrates our county’s most valuable asset: its people – determined, compassionate, united.”
The logo will be used on all documentation, events and projects representing the bicentennial. Johansson will receive a $500 cash prize and recognition as the creator of the milestone emblem.
The logo is the first of many announcements coming as the committee plans the county’s 200th anniversary celebration in 2024. The committee is currently collecting public suggestions on events and projects to help celebrate the occasion and leave a mark for future generations, as well as gathering names and contact information for those who want to volunteer.
To learn more, submit ideas or volunteer to help, visit the Hendricks County Bicentennial website at hendricks200.com. Residents can also register to receive email updates about all bicentennial efforts on the website.
