Framingham City Seal Development Committee

As part of a city-wide initiative, this project focused on designing a new official seal for the City of Framingham—one that honors its history, reflects its current identity, and looks ahead to its future. The design process was driven by deep historical research and meaningful community engagement, including public surveys and hearings.

The existing seal, originally created in 1900, included historical references such as Danforth’s Farms, a railroad wheel, sheaves of wheat, and May Hall at Framingham State University. A braided border symbolized the town’s first industry—straw bonnet-making. These elements informed early concept development, while new ideas were shaped through resident feedback gathered by the Seal Development Committee.

Deliverables

• Vector versions: color, black & white, grayscale, and reversed (knocked-out)
• Other formats (color only): PNG, PDF, EPS, JPG
• Brand Guide including:
• Design rationale and component significance
• Usage guidelines (sizing, spacing, proximity)
• Color breakdowns (Pantone, CMYK, RGB, Hex)
• Font usage and specifications

Requirements

• All design submissions must be original and must not infringe on any existing intellectual property

Timeline

• Feb 8, 2019: Quote Solicitation
• Mar 8, 2019: Submissions Due
• Apr 8, 2019: Contract Awarded
• Apr 22, 2019: Kick-off Meeting with SDC
• May 20, 2019: Initial Submissions Due
• May 21 – July 22, 2019: Iteration Phase
• Sept 9, 2019: Public Hearing & Survey Feedback Due
• Oct 14, 2019: Final Presentation to City Council

The result was a carefully considered and community-informed civic symbol designed to represent Framingham with pride and purpose for years to come.