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Cox enlists FCHS alum to design new DOE logo

By J. FRANK LYNCH
jflynch@theCitizenNews.com

When State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox went searching for a new graphic identity for the Georgia Department of Education, she found it courtesy of two students from her days teaching in Fayette County.

Chip Evans and Patrick Heffernan, partners in Point Seven Design Studio in Roswell, came up with the new logo at no charge to the state. Evans is a 1991 graduate of Fayette County High, where the state superintendent began her career teaching social studies.

Cox then transfered to Sandy Creek High, where she taught Heffernan as well. After winning a seat in the General Assembly, she moved on to McIntosh High, where she remained in the classroom until deciding to run for state superintendent in 2002.

Heffernan kept in touch with his former teacher, Evans explained, and was responsible for bringing them all together to make the new logo a reality.

“We met with them and they kind of told us what they were looking for,” said Evans, hoping publicity from the venture boosts the young company, founded last year by the two.

According to Cox, the new logo better identifies the department’s vision that Georgia “will lead the nation in improving student achievement,” a pledge that’s repeated throughout the package donated by Evans.

“He made it possible for the Georgia Department of Education to update its image at no cost to Georgia taxpayers,” said Cox. “I think the new logo is powerful and shows the upward momentum we are seeing in public schools across our state.”

Evans teamed up with GDOE Public Information Officer Kirk Englehardt to design the new logo, a graphic identity standards manual, new letterhead, business cards, and envelopes for the agency. Additionally, Evans produced customizable PowerPoint backgrounds and report covers that are available to all GDOE divisions.

“The logo features a cheering graduate and an A+ that emphasize educational success, improved achievement, and optimism,” Evans explained. “It truly represents what the Georgia Department of Education is all about.”

The image update is being carefully phased in across the GDOE to avoid any excess cost, Englehardt said. GDOE divisions have been asked to exhaust current supplies of letterhead, envelopes, and business cards before ordering items with the new design.

Point Seven Design Studio specializes in corporate identity, business collateral, marketing communications, business to client communications, advertising and promotion materials and consulting. For more information, go to www.pointsevendesign.com.