My beautiful baby girl was born August 18, 2009 . She was 7 lbs 9 oz and  21 inches long. This is one of my favorite pictures.

Check out my practice project, that I did in her honor:

http://aaronjbates.com/NoraClaire

A NEW BRAND FOR DOWNTOWN

Why create a new identity?
Downtown Lakeland is a flourishing cultural, retail, and entertainment hub that offers an outstanding quality of life. In order to drive awareness of Downtown Lakeland and set it apart from other cities in its region, an authentic and distinctive identity was needed. This thriving social and economic center deserved an engaging brand that would communicate its energy, dynamism, and vitality to a local, regional, and national audience.

What does the new logo express?
Thoughtful in its evolution and growth, Downtown Lakeland reflects multidimensional, creative urban community where every detail and amenity is planned, purposeful, artfully selected, and masterfully interwoven. The new logo exudes the essence of Downtown Lakeland:

• the upward movement of the artwork suggests a fountain or a big splash, alluding to the many lakes that distinguish the region.
• the “fireworks flair” alludes to the explosive vibrancy of a Downtown that invites active participation in the regular festivals and events that celebrate Downtown’s heritage and traditions and the everyday richness of the environment.
• the colorful fronds of the artwork imply an interweaving of energy and reference Downtown’s brilliant interlacing of tradition, art, commerce, and culture.
• the tagline Rich Traditions . . . Artful Energy evokes the authentic atmosphere of this compelling and established place with its enchanting gardens and lakes, historic buildings, galleries, museums, inspiring retail, cultural centers, and visual and performing arts.

What will the new logo do?
The new brand identity will create a strong, recognizable image of Downtown Lakeland and will live on civic letterhead, literature, billboards, advertisements, and public Web site. Its expressive eloquence will capture attention and incite interest in the community. The new brand will express the community’s pride in a place where everything seems to flow and fit together. It will serve as a draw for those interested in enjoying the amenities, activities, and support services found within the compact, friendly, and thoughtfully detailed, mixed-use urban core. It will reference the strong sense of collaboration between Downtown Lakeland administration, committee members, organizations, civic groups, business owners, and residents who are called upon to create a Downtown culture, art, and retail district that reflects both a strong
sense of community and a strong sense of purpose.

What is Downtown Lakeland’s new brand?
Downtown Lakeland is not just a quaint and attractive community with a “hometown” feel and a high-growth potential. It is also a mixed-use urban center and compelling destination reflective of Central Florida’s heart and heritage. With a sense of place and a lot of soul, Downtown Lakeland reveals its true self:

• a compelling destination and a sustainable place to live.
• a cultural center or art and letters zone – with great art, museums, theaters, architecture, gardens, and lakes/swans.
• a place that incorporates the best of both worlds- a Downtown with great urban amenities combined with a strong sense of community.
• a 24/7 urban center that knits together the neighborhoods, the arts and cultural scene, and the business community to create a vibrant center with a high quality of life.
• a well-maintained, historic, creative, attractive, walkable and friendly environment with street-level retail and sidewalk café culture that energize the street.

For those that wanted to see it embedded, here you go:

LDDA: A New Brand for Downtown