Intentional Branding Fuels a Sense of Belonging for the City of Monmouth

Meet the City of Monmouth Oregon

The City of Monmouth Oregon is a unique small town in the heart of the Willamette Valley, just 25 minutes to the state capital and one hour to the coast and mountains. They are a thriving university town surrounded by agriculture. The city’s dedication to inclusive spaces, access to resources, and commitment to safety attracts visitors, artisans, growers, small-business owners, and families of all shapes and sizes.

At Altar Media, our goal was to create a brand identity that reflects Monmouth’s diverse community, strong educational roots, and commitment to sustainability. We were tasked with creating a brand that highlights the quaint, historical aspects of Monmouth without mimicking the elements of WOU or their historic downtown logo.

What Monmouth aimed to achieve with their rebranding project

(Previous Logo)

Monmouth aimed to update their logo and create a cohesive brand that would be used consistently by the city and its various departments. The old logo had become outdated and no longer captured the city’s current vibe.

They felt that a rebrand would help the city project a more unified and modern image, making it easier for everyone to use and recognize the city’s brand.

How community feedback shaped and refined the new Monmouth brand

To ensure the new brand truly resonated with the community, we launched a digital survey open to the public for six weeks, collecting over 300 responses. This feedback provided valuable insights into what people liked and didn’t like about the old brand, and what they envisioned for the new one. The results clearly indicated a desire for a fresh, modern design that better captured the spirit of Monmouth.

With the feedback we received, we jumped into designing the new look. We began by sketching out different logo ideas and playing around with various concepts

As we moved forward, we worked closely with a team of stakeholders who gave us their feedback on our designs. We made a few changes to colors and fonts to get the logo just right. Their input was essential in making sure the final design really fit what the community was looking for.

By the end of the project we’ve created a fresh, unified look that truly captures the spirit of this vibrant town. The new logo and brand elements reflect Monmouth’s charm and modern identity, making it easy for everyone to connect with the city’s unique character.

Working closely with the community and stakeholders, we made sure that the new brand resonates with the people who live and work here. The updated materials, from business cards to signage, now present a consistent and engaging image that highlights Monmouth’s dedication to inclusivity and sustainability.