Scottish councils elect five in-house identities

Six Scottish councils are unveiling new identities – with only one concept created by an outside consultancy.

West Lothian Council’s logo is by Tayburn McIlroy Coates and Fife’s by in-house designer Freya Mackie. The in-house graphics team at the former Strathclyde Regional Council has designed identities for four new councils born on 1 April, the result of Strathclyde splitting into 12 regional councils.

Tayburn McIlroy Coates was appointed after a credentials pitch. Its winning identity (pictured) was chosen from three logo concepts which were printed in local press to elicit reactions.

Fife Council created controversy when it invited groups to take part in a Scotland-wide free pitch (DW 12 January). Four logos were shortlisted, two in-house, one by Midlothian consultancy James Gardiner Associates – since merged into Gardiner Russell – and one by Glasgow’s Legend Design Consultants.

The former Strathclyde in-house team has designed logos for Argyll and Bute Council, East Renfrewshire Council, South Ayrshire Council and West Dunbartonshire Council.

These designers are being transferred to new posts within the new councils. Senior design officer Stewart Campbell joins West Dunbartonshire, graphics design assistant Brian Armstrong joins City of Glasgow Council, corporate graphics designer Anne Joel joins North Lanarkshire and graphics design assistant Ian Crichton joins East Renfrewshire.

City of Glasgow Council is deciding between four groups, while Renfrewshire District Council held an open free pitch for its identity.