Preserving Wayzata’s Heritage Through Illustration
Fuzzy Duck
June 17, 2019
In 2016, Fuzzy Duck was contacted by the Wayzata Heritage Preservation Board to help create a stronger visual brand for the long-time organization. They had been struggling with establishing an identity within the community. There was confusion over what the organization did and in some cases, people thought they were the same as the Historical Society.
Initially, what the group felt they needed was an updated logo. The Fuzzy Duck team not only came up with that new logo but they helped the board with their overall messaging by articulating exactly what the organization did. Fuzzy Duck took that information and simplified it all down into the tagline “Remember • Restore • Revitalize” which they included in the logo design.
Fuzzy Duck presented their vision for the primary logo which featured an illustrated image of the historic train depot in a style reminiscent of a vintage advertising poster. At the same time, Fuzzy Duck proposed the idea to establish a series of secondary images featuring different historic landmarks throughout the city. The images could be used on posters, shirts, and other items and could potentially be sold to help raise funds for the organization’s mission. The board loved the idea and quickly began formulating a list of which buildings were to be used.
Other than the primary logo which featured the Train Depot, Fuzzy Duck was commissioned to create four additional images featuring the original Bank Building on Lake Street, the Post Office, the American Legion, and the Section Foreman’s House.
On June 13, 2019, at a Wayzata Chamber Member Appreciation Picnic, Fuzzy Duck had the honor of joining the Heritage Preservation Board in presenting a poster of the primary HPB logo to the Greater Wayzata Area Chamber of Commerce – which now offices out of the Train Depot featured in the logo. It was a beautiful evening filled with Chamber members, city officials, food, games, laughs and meeting new people. The community-focused event served as a reminder of exactly why Fuzzy Duck enjoys working on creative projects like this for local organizations.