Image for "Storytelling"

I like what you're describing. Tree stars - perfect. You may want to think about doing a really complex logo like the Unilever logo with many elements to represent the diversity of the imagination that goes into the stories.

Telling history verbally is an old practice and has a colorful story in and of itself. I imagine an indian tribe around a campfire or in their sweat lodge imparting stories of their ancestors with flickering shadows.

It's a complex set of visual ideas and I think the trouble is there's nothing limiting those ideas, no framework. Maybe focus on one or two aspects of the storytelling, the campfire, the tree, the stars. Does the town have something that represents it? San Fran has the Golden Gate Bridge, Seattle the Space Needle, etc.

You could have that icon with a large star next to a smaller star implying the transferall of info from an older being to a younger one...stars are a good universal symbol for what we are: stardust. :)

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Powerpoint is not a design application

I had another idea but it's more involved: Woodcarved style logo. Ever seen those old logos (Blue Moon Beer comes close) that incorporate several icons to tell a 'story' on the logo? Guinness does this (look at the back of their latest cans to see old logos from their distributors in the late 1800s early 1900s.

I imagine you could get a great 'woodcut' look, incorporate the tree, star and campfire with the silhouette of someone speaking in front of that fire telling a great story...

Might work...

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Powerpoint is not a design application

What a great project! I was involved in the development of the Smithsonian Institution's "oral history" project, which started as part of the annual Folklife Festival many years ago and drew its inspiration from the WPA (Works Progress Administration) projects of Roosevelt's "New Deal" -- a way to put writers, artists and photographers to work archiving America's cultural heritage, with special focus on rural areas. I think your moon, stars, trees idea is lovely, as is natobasso's woodcut suggestion. I suspect your client will want something simpler, though, that might lend itself to those ubiquitous banner/flag things that historic towns have taken to hanging from their Main Street lamp posts.

I'm thinking of a Victorian "side chair," of the sort a storyteller might well occupy, in the form of a steel engraving (available in repros of 19th century catalogs; see art section of your local bookstore) with a funky floor lamp next to it? You could also use a rocking chair with an oil lamp hanging from a hook above it, and other combinations representing the many kinds of stories told in the town. The overall design would unite the variations.

I'm dying to see what you come up with!

in a while I feel like my initial ideas were not total crud. Like Natobasso, I too was thinking of doing something "woodcut." Another cool aspect of the project is the this town is the oldest town in the state, so a historic looking logo would be appropriate.

But, Mara, I also love the rocking chair idea!

I too am thinking that this project is a rare occasion where a more complex logo could actually work. I am going to fool around with these ideas and post some up. I think I am going to really need some critique before I submit these to my project managers. I hope you are all around!