Author: Gina Clifford

“What is it about Muscle Shoals, just a little village on the Alabama border? Why does that music come out of there?” asks English musician Steve Winwood in “Muscle Shoals,” the 2013 award winning documentary.

“Each time a person went to Muscle Shoals, they came out with a hit record,” says another about the town’s legendary FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. Artists who’ve recorded there include Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Otis Redding and more recently Jason Isbell, Demi Lovato and The Blind Boys of Alabama.

Music fans and recording artists still flock to Muscle Shoals. The “little village on the Alabama border” is becoming an even better place to live, work and visit, thanks to the efforts of the community and DesignPlace, a DesignAlabama initiative that provides communities assistance with design, planning and community identity.

Design experts demonstrate how to enhance quality of life and community development through the design arts, and design professionals meet with citizens and city leaders who provide input. Ben Wieseman, founder of Place Associates, served as Muscle Shoals DesignPlace facilitator.

The DesignPlace event was held late last year in Muscle Shoals and the design team recently presented its report that focuses on six areas to address that will enhance the community, says Muscle Shoals Mayor Mike Lockhart.

“We are a unique town that is relatively new and without a traditional downtown,” says Lockhart. Developing a new town center is one of the six areas identified.

The town’s underutilized Southgate Mall could be part of a redevelopment project to create a town center. The project would include developing a central green space, sidewalks and smaller green spaces, adding retail businesses and a hotel, and improved connectivity to nearby FAME Studios. The town center plan also calls for incorporating the regional Singing River Trail into the street design. The indigenous Yuchi Indians called the Tennessee River “the singing river.”

Another area of focus is Steenson Hollow, a residential neighborhood along the Tennessee River in the northern section of Muscle Shoals that provides infill and development opportunities. Steenson Hollow could expand to include different housing types, more commercial development and pedestrian access to the river.

The creation of workforce housing around the industrial park is also included in the report. The design team conceptualized a development with a new pond and stormwater facility, a public park and new housing development.

Activation of space around City Hall is another one of the six areas of interest. The project would be focused in the area of Avalon Avenue, the primary street in Muscle Shoals. Residents expressed a need for a gathering space. The large open area behind the existing amphitheater stage could be used for musical performances, art shows, farmer’s markets and other events. The plan also calls for new office buildings.

Connectivity and walkability were also addressed. The design team looked at an area known as “the Cube” that contains City Hall and several schools. The objective is to create a safe way for all students to walk or bike to school.

In addition, increase the connectivity and visibility of Fame Studio, which attracts tourists worldwide and is a key business, cultural institution and regional landmark. The plan would connect FAME Studio to the proposed Singing River Trail along Avalon Avenue, and access to the proposed new design of Southgate Mall. A music history museum is also proposed, as well as implementing an effective brand strategy.

*Article Written by Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy of DesignAlabama

Being in the Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area gives Helena the best of both worlds, the ease and joy of small town living along with easily accessed urban amenities. In 2007, Business Week has named Helena the 13th “Best Place to Raise Your Kids” and Money Magazine listed it in “Best Places to Live: Top 100”.  It has the eighth lowest crime rate per population in the Unites States and in 2008 the Alabama League of Municipalities awarded Helena a Municipal Achievement Award.

The community clearly has a lot going for it, but there’s always room for improvement. That is where DesignAlabama stepped in with its DesignPlace, a three-day charrette that provides communities assistance with design, planning and community identity.

Brainstorming ideas and generating solutions is what DesignPlace is all about. The team of design professionals met in Helena recently and released their findings on how the city can become an even better place to live, work and visit.

Based on community input, the team identified several areas to target. These include enhancing a key local attraction called Amphitheater Park, infill opportunities in the historic district known as Old Town Helena and transforming the WPA-built Nash Bridge into a park. In addition, develop wayfinding, gateways, and rebranding strategies.

“The community is constantly growing, and it has a great deal of internal assets,” notes Ben Wieseman, Principal at Place Associates, who served as facilitator of the Helena DesignPlace. Helena’s population is currently 23,000.

Also on the Helena design team: Amy Smith, founder of Studio A Design; Angela Stiff, Managing Partner and Creative Director of Copperwing Design in Montgomery; Jason Fondren, Planning Studio leader for Birmingham’s KPS Group; architect Andrew Bryant with Design Initiative; and Suchithra Prabhu, an associate at Williams Blackstock Architects in Birmingham. Both Smith and Wieseman have done previous plans for the city of Helena, which was beneficial to the DesignPlace process, says Mayor Brian Puckett.

Puckett identifies Amphitheater Park as the No. 1 priority, followed by rebranding the city and creating Nash Bridge Park.  Also important is quality of life. “We thrive on that small-town culture, and we want to maintain it,” adds Puckett.

A new 50×100 pavilion is proposed for Amphitheater Park, along with parking, play areas, trails, grass areas and a boardwalk that would run along the vehicular bridge on Highway 52. The pavilion was inspired by the former mill structure that once stood nearby. A new concession and restroom facility is designed to complement the pavilion. In addition, walkways within the park are proposed that will connect to the future Buck Creek Trail system, which will offer several miles of trails and connect to several schools and other parks.

Nash Bridge on Highway 52 is proposed to be a new park and canoe launch area. The bridge was constructed of stone from the old coke ovens at Lee Springs Park in 1941. This is a county bridge, so the Nash Bridge Park project is a city/country partnership and Puckett says Shelby County has already invested $150,000 in the project.

As Puckett points out, Helena has many appealing attractions, but people must be able to easily access them. A new signage system will help visitors find destinations. The signs also provide a tangible brand for Helena at designated locations.

Additionally, gateway sites are proposed on three major routes to help bring visitors into Helena. It is recommended that gateway signs be enhanced with landscaping and lighting. Rebranding will promote Helena’s story as a vibrant community offering natural beauty, historic sites, and first-rate schools. All within the Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in a community that retains its small-town character.

Article Written by Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy of DesignAlabama

Breathing new life into old buildings has long taken place in Alabama. Cotton mills in Huntsville have found new purpose, including Lowe Mill located southwest of downtown. Home to over 200 artists, Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment Center is billed as the South’s largest privately owned arts facility and includes seven fine art galleries, a multi-use theater, event space and a community garden.

This prominent Huntsville cultural amenity recently participated in DesignAlabama’s DesignDash, a one-day, all-out-effort that brings together community members and design professionals who focus on a design and planning issue. A facilitator leads discussions among community members and design professionals. During the second half of the day, the design professionals work alone to create ideas, renderings and other images based on their findings.

“So much of the focus on Lowe Mill has always been on programming the internal spaces for artists, studios, and exhibitions, but through DesignDash we had the opportunity to look at the whole facility and help envision how to program some exterior spaces,” explains Lowe Mill facilitator Brandon Bias, a community and regional planner at Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood.

DesignDash also looked at connectivity to the center’s adjacent neighborhoods and the downtown. Since the Lowe Mill DesignDash, the city of Huntsville has been awarded a $20 million federal grant which will help improve connectivity. The grant will be used to help fund a long planned pedestrian bridge designed to provide safe connectivity between the downtown, Mill Creek, and Lowe Mill communities. Currently known as Skybridge, at certain elevations this dramatic-looking cable suspension bridge will appear to be floating in the air.

What to do with Lowe Mill’s boiler room was also discussed, which remains the mill’s last unimproved space. The DesignDash team looked at how to preserve and stabilize this area, Bias says, and how this space could be integrated into the overall facility.

Responding to the development of the mill’s neighborhood provides the arts and entertainment center with “a tremendous opportunity,” Bias says.

“We explored ideas on how to provide on-site or adjacent residential development for artists. But also, how the mill can be integrated in with improved sidewalks and trails that could make it more accessible to a larger and nearby audience.”

Programming exterior space could greatly enhance the facility, he adds, and while there are some outdoor events at the Mill, creating improved space would make those events more functional.

“A great of example of this is the ‘Central Courtyard’ that is a weakness which could be a huge asset. Right now, it is just service space and storage, but the recommendation is to develop that as event space with some open-air type structures for markets, festivals, concerts, etc.” Bias says the design team is uncertain what might be implemented first but believes the central courtyard would be most impactful.

“When it functioned as a mill, it was likely just exterior storage and service, Bias says of this central courtyard area. “Now as an arts facility it has the chance to be a new and dynamic way to engaging the facility.”

A cotton mill is a good example of early industrial architecture which is appreciated by those who now use Lowe Mill. The Mill opened in 1901 as Huntsville’s fifth cotton mill. When cotton was no longer king Lowe Mill was used for several functions including shoe manufacturing. In 2001 Jim Hudson, founder of Huntsville-based Research Genetics, bought the property and reopened it as the Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment Center.

“Character of the facility was a huge talking point for us,” says Bias. “If you haven’t been, I describe it as a very organic and gritty facility, in a good way, and we would not want to make any recommendations or improvements that took away from that quality. It feels very much like a space created by artists for artists and that is important to them.” 

Article Written by Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy of DesignAlabama

In the mood for a Parisian experience? No need to grab your passport and book a flight to France. Two new Birmingham destinations just might transport you to the Champs-Élysées.

Bar La Fête, which translates to party in French, is described as a “playful, yet moody” wine bar. Bandit Pâtisserie is a petit pastry shop and espresso bar with window counter seating in a classic, Parisian-inspired space that features marble countertops and custom tiling.

Both are in Mercantile on Morris in downtown Birmingham that turned early 20^th century buildings into a 14,000-square-foot mixed-use development. The historic facades were kept intact, and the interiors were gutted to create an open-air plaza ambiance. They are the latest concepts of chefs and restauranteurs Victor King and Kristen Hall, who also created the interior design. Kyle D’Agostino of Poole & Co. Architects was the architect.

“I wanted to create a space that transforms guests to a different place and time,” Hall explains of Bar La Fête. “It was my goal to design a space that transported guests, creating a sense of grandeur and separation from the outside world. Using pattern, scale, and selection of surfaces, I believe we achieved our goals. I always want our spaces to feel like they have been around for a long time, even though our spaces up to this point have been completely new construction inside historic buildings.”

At about 3,000 square feet, Bar La Fête is reminiscent of the street cafés of Paris. The exterior features a classic Parisian floral facade with an assortment of blooms and greenery that spill out onto the street, framing the restaurant’s large windows and sidewalk café seating. Inside, a large, curved marble bar opens to a full kitchen and custom wine shelves, accented by olive green and gold hues throughout.

Curves play a large role in the overall design, from the Italian marble curved bar that anchors the space to the soft slopes of the walnut stained wood accents and rounded celling, an aesthetic trend that creates a space that is innately warm, welcoming, and feminine.

As with all their projects, the bathrooms were the first spaces designed. The three unisex bathrooms each has its own personality, with three different patterns of terrazzo and subway tiles in deep hues. Playing off the “occupied” signs found on airplanes and trains, each room features a reclaimed nautical brass fixture above the door that lights up when the bathroom is in use.

“I love designing bathrooms in restaurant spaces, it’s actually the place I start with first,” says Hall. “Each of these bathrooms have distinctive designs using terrazzo. I used large format terrazzo panels that are 12×24 inches laid vertically up the wall to 48 inches and then utilized a smaller format subway tile for contrast in color and scale. Terrazzo is a wonderful surface to use in a hospitality space, as it stands up to a high volume of traffic but brings such depth and character to the space. I used a mustard yellow, chalky dark blue, and a mauve for each of the spaces.”

Wallpaper is another distinct feature of Bar La Fête. Hall selected paper from England’s House of Hackney that focuses on peonies in a traditional and romantic floral print with a contemporary flair. Hall calls wallpaper her “love language” that creates depth and texture and creates instant personality.

Lighting fixtures offer contrasts. Old world candle sconces coexist with modern pendant fixtures. “I always gravitate towards mid-century modern light fixtures for our spaces,” Hall says. “They have wonderfully clean lines that give a lightness to the space. But as a Parisian-inspired space, I added layers of collected fixtures and unexpected choices. Parisian spaces have lived hundreds of years and hundreds of lives, and I wanted to use that as inspiration for our design choices.”

Hall says she is pleased with the outcome and is always in awe of transforming spaces. Bar La Fête, she notes, “was an empty white box six months ago and has been transformed into a glorious space to connect with friends and enjoy the beauty of food and wine.”

Article Written by Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy of Caleb Chancey

Art in the street makes people happy.

This simple sentence expresses the essence of murals, a special type of street art that tells the community’s story, engages citizens, boosts the local economy, fosters appreciation for the arts, and improves the look of the surrounding area.

And who’s to say artwork must be confined to museums and galleries?

With that in mind, Selma-based artist Trés Taylor set out to create murals across Alabama’s Black Belt, most notably along Highway 14. His first was in Birmingham, followed by two in Selma, and one each in Marion, Greensboro, Eutaw, Camden, Greenville and Uniontown.

The Black Belt area was chosen because that’s “where the magic happens,” notes Taylor, speaking on his way to his one-man gallery show in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  “The Black Belt is so rich with stories[JA1] .”

But he’s also quick to point out that the Black Belt is economically challenged and art can play a role in lifting up and revitalizing the region.

Taylor has gained success as an artist whose paintings – full of vivid colors and jubilant imagery – interestingly are done on tarpaper, the heavy-duty paper used in construction. As his wife Helene, his art manager, points out, his work is a cross between folk and the fine arts. The mural project is strictly volunteer and a way for him to give back to his beloved state.

Nine murals are completed so far and 11 to go to meet his goal of 20. A project this ambitious can’t be done alone, so Taylor partnered with Can’d Aid, a Colorado-based nonprofit that brings together volunteers to enhance communities in various ways such providing music and the arts and restoring the environment. Can’d Aid pays the cost of paint and other materials, and helps coordinate the mural painting process. Because the organization plays such an integral role, the project was named “Can’d Aid’s Revolution of Joy.”

Creating a mural start to finish is an arduous process, and, as Taylor notes, the task of painting the side of the building is relatively easy compared to the work leading up to it. He first does his homework, learning about the community – its people, history and notable characteristics. He then writes a parable that reflects the spirit of the community.  

“It’s a lot of work coming up with the story, then I start designing,” he explains.

A watercolor rendition of the mural is displayed on the building as a guideline, but the actual guide is Taylor himself. “I’m the conductor who orchestrates the work.”

Two volunteers from Can’d Aid travel from Colorado to the project site, where they help coordinate the many volunteers who are ready to bring the mural to life with vibrant paint and Taylor’s well-thought-out design. A call for volunteers is done through social media and contacts in the towns who get the word out.

Children are an important part of the mural painting process, which becomes a joyful community event bringing local residents together. On the Camden mural, for example, children painted their own contributions into the design, which for that town was a quilt. One little boy called it a clown quilt, in his mind that’s what it was so “Clown Quilt” became the title of the mural.

Taylor says the mural done in Uniontown was closest to his heart. A community hurting economically, but despite such hardship the citizens were so enthusiastic about the mural being created in their town that they asked, “What’s next?”

This fall Taylor plans to install plaques on each mural that will provide information about the fable that inspired the mural.  

Indeed, art in the street makes people happy.

Taylor offers another simple sentence that encapsulates the project: “Art changes a neighborhood.”

Upcoming murals are set for next April in Orville and possibly Demopolis. You can follow the projects on Facebook and Instagram @Trestaylorworksontarpaper

*Article Written by Jessica Armstrong

Never underestimate the attraction of a public market. Crowds at the fish market in downtown Seattle’s Pike Place love a crazy tradition – employees throw fish through the air, caught at the counter and wrapped for customers. Not only is Pike Place the city’s most popular destination, it’s the 33^rd most visited attraction in the world with over 10 million annual visitors.

No doubt about it, people gravitate to a thriving marketplace. Downtown Anniston will soon have its own outdoor market, and although fish tossing is unlikely, it is likely to be a major attraction as well.

The city purchased the former Anniston Auto Parts Store and adjacent buildings to convert into an open-air market, located a block away from the new Freedom Riders Monument.

Anniston-based architect Bill Whittaker is renovating six damaged building in Anniston’s downtown historic district into the market complex, which will include bathrooms, office space for Main Street Anniston, a community garden and an area for food trucks and open cooking.

The open-air market will take up 15,850 square feet, and 1,450 square feet is for the Main Street Anniston office and restrooms. Construction starts September 2022 and the project is expected to be completed by February 2023.

The objective, says Whittaker, is to “maintain the past on this street front, but look to the future on the adjacent storefront. So, the building has two faces and it ties the past to the future. I think that’s a win for any community,” 

Much of the roof was gone from the damaged buildings, so the complex was already on its way to an open-air function. The façade of the auto parts building will remain intact along with the signage. The existing structural steel columns and beams will remain as well, and a new skin of cloth canopies are to be installed.

The salvaged façade will be cleaned and painted, and the original signage will be repaired and illuminated. The existing single-pane windows will remain and will be repainted.

The community garden will be maintained by the Oxford Garden Club located in the neighboring town. Two compartments set back from the façade are to be removed to allow space for the food trucks and outdoor cooking.

Also nearby is city hall and the new federal courthouse, along with the trailhead of the Chief Ladiga Trail, which is part of the Rails to Trails program. Once completed, the trail will stretch 33 miles to the Alabama-Georgia border. Even without its latest extension, the Chief Ladiga trail is considered the nation’s longest paved trail.

Such an ideal location is bound to attract plenty of people to the market. “It kind of checks all the boxes,” Whittaker notes. “It gives them a reason to be here besides selling. It is a place for everyone to gather and talk to each other.”

 

 

 *Article Written by Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy of Bill Whittaker Architecture

No disputing that parks greatly enhance the livability of a community. Place one in a wooded setting – particularly in such states as Alabama where sticky humidity lingers most of the year – and the park is bound to attract many visitors.   

Shade is indeed a primary reason why Lee Springs Park in Helena is so popular. Though Helena would unlikely be labeled a concrete jungle, it is part of the Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, therefore such a refuge is a much-appreciated amenity.

Why is the shade of a tree important on hot days? According to Energy.gov, it can reduce the surrounding air temperature by as much as 6 degrees Fahrenheit. There’s no denying the positive impact of shade on outdoor thermal comfort.

Studio A Design was the lead consultant on the design of the park, which includes trails for walking and running, bike trails, picnic tables and a playground.

Signs within the park provide information about the history of steel production in the area. Between 1873 and 1876, roughly 180 beehive-style coke ovens were constructed in the park area. Though the ovens were moved in 1899, remnants of the oven walls are still visible.  U.S. Steel owned the property and set aside 30 acres for the park.   

Google reviews of Lee Springs show that many people not only love that the park is set in the woods, but also how it is carefully integrated into the landscape.

“Due to the federal funding sources through the Alabama Mining Bureau, several studies were required, including a Cultural Resource Assessment and a Phase One Environmental Assessment,” explains Amy Smith, president of Studio A Design.

As the landscape architect on the project, Smith relied on these studies as well as historic maps, LIDAR maps, and numerous site visits to study the lay of the land and envision a blend of historic interpretation along with modern activities that would be inviting and meaningful. 

“It was important to preserve the trees,” she adds, “whose root systems helped to preserve the historic landforms and prevent erosion, and it was also important to bring visitors within viewing distance of sensitive historic features, without disturbing those features.”    

Relying on natural materials at the site and working with its topography was fundamental in designing the park. For example, the play area was designed to fit into the wooded landscape, including the slides that are built on the natural slope of the hillside. Bridges, boardwalks, steps and other features were constructed out of natural wood. Trees were used to support swings. The treehouse, boardwalks, benches and overlooks are supported with tree trunks. Low impact features include crushed stone trails and parking surfaces, and the use of indigenous materials.

*Article Written by Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy Studio A Design LLC

Preparation for the 2022 World Games held in Birmingham in July included security measures that would displace people experiencing homelessness who were living in areas designated as secured perimeter points. In response, community partners formed the Compassion Project to create resource options including temporary shelter.

Finding viable solutions to complex problems takes time. Although the volunteer design team’s micro-shelter protype wasn’t fully used during The World Games, the project is moving forward to make a lasting, measurable difference for those in insecure housing situations. The Compassion Project represents the collective effort of several organizations  that currently serve people facing housing insecurity in the Birmingham area. 

“A very basic explanation of the concept for the Compassion Project is to provide a welcoming place for people experiencing housing insecurity, where there is ready access to the variety of needed services in a centralized location, with a community atmosphere,” explains Jeremy Cutts of Williams Blackstock Architects. “The local design community was invited in to help bring that concept to reality, with primary focus areas being site layout/logistics and creating the spaces that support the concept.” 

The Compassion Project is exploring long-term solutions to more effectively address the needs of those facing housing insecurity in the Birmingham area. In a 2021 report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), nearly six out of 10 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness are in an urban setting.

The project is citizen-led and funded by private donations. The all-volunteer design team consists primarily of Birmingham architects, along with input on structural engineering, landscape architecture, graphic design, and contributions from a few non-design professionals.  Construction volunteers are from an even broader spectrum.

During the earliest stages of design, the team of volunteers met with potential end-users to find out what they would like prioritized in the design. A crucial need is a place to sleep and secure belongings that is protected from the elements. 

“As we began developing designs for these shelters, we realized that if we could build a full community of shelter prototypes in time for The World Games, we could gather much more feedback from the target groups,” Cutts recalls.  “That goal was perhaps too ambitious given the timeline, but we were able to build two fully functioning prototypes complete with lockable doors, windows, a bed, storage space and air conditioning.” 

The design team received positive responses from those who took part in the services at the Compassion Project site during The World Games. Although no one slept in the shelters overnight, they were allowed to schedule one-hour naps throughout the day, and many did.  The comments received from their firsthand experiences will inform future developments of the prototype designs, says Cutts. Prototypes may be designed so they can be disassembled, stored and then reassembled.  The prototypes constructed and used during The World Games were not.

Lessons learned and knowledge gained from the project will be added to the ongoing efforts to meet the needs of those experiencing homelessness.

“The next step is to fold this new information into our ongoing research and refinements,” explains Cutts.  “The World Games provided a unique opportunity to get a lot more feedback, but The World Games was not the finish line nor the focus for the organizations who first conceived of The Compassion Project.” 

As efforts develop further, finding the right community partner or partners to help work toward establishing a permanent site is a possibility.

“There is no single personal profile that can capture all individuals who find themselves facing housing insecurity, and likewise, there is no single solution that can address all situations,” Cutts adds. 

“We have and we need different solutions, which each contribute their part and collectively provide the right fit for the variety of circumstances.   The Compassion Project can be seen as a unique way to contribute to the larger puzzle.”

*Article Written by Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy Rob Culpepper Photography

Growth management is essential today as communities seek to control the location, impact, character, and timing of development in order to balance environmental and economic needs and concerns, writes leading growth management consultant Douglas Porter in “Managing Growth in America’s Communities.”

Communities across Alabama are looking at ways to thoughtfully plan for expansion, including an unincorporated area of Autauga County that is experiencing enormous growth. With that in mind, the community participated in DesignAlabama’s DesignDash program to explore ways to effectively manage growth while making the community a safer and more desirable place to live and work.

“The primary area of concern is the U.S. 31 corridor between I-65 and CR 40 in an unincorporated area of Autauga County known as Pine Level,” explains Jim Byard of Prattville-based Byard Associates, a strategic development consulting firm. “This is a fast- growing business and residential corridor that encompasses the only interstate exit in Autauga County.”

DesignDash offers a single-day blitz of design interaction between community members and design professionals. A facilitator leads discussions between community members and design professionals who focus on a site-specific design and planning issue. During the second half of the day, the design professionals work alone to create ideas, renderings and other images based on their findings.

The U.S. Hwy 31 corridor has been identified as one of several major growth areas for Autauga County. The Autauga County Commission, in partnership with Central Alabama Electric Cooperative and Central Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission, asked DesignAlabama to look take a look at the U.S. 31 Hwy corridor, starting at exit 186 and traveling north to County Road 40, to begin discussions of good design and visioning for this rapidly growing area of North Autauga County, notes Kristi Pieper, economic developer for Autauga County.

The DesignDash workshop brought together a small core group of citizens to start the conversations and to begin creating a conceptual framework of how the US-31 corridor could be enhanced. And in the northern sector along U.S. Hwy 31 are large areas of undeveloped land with little street network. As these areas develop, it is important to plan for a street system that provides access and disperses traffic in a balanced, less concentrated manner.

“Autauga County continues growing at a steady pace and is expected to continue double-digit growth of nearly 20 percent by 2040,” Pieper adds. “Most of the growth we are seeing is in north Autauga County, in the Pine Leve/Marbury area. Exit 186, also known as the Pine Level exit, serves as the gateway to Autauga County and is the shortest route from I-65 to historic downtown Prattville.”

Exit 186 is also important as it is the shortest route to downtown Prattville and the home of Daniel Pratt’s Gin Factory, which is currently being revitalized.

“A big conversation” at the DesignDash event was whether the Pine Level area should be incorporated, explains GMC Regional and Community Planner Brandon Bias Brandon Bias who served as DesignDash facilitator. Though it’s up to the community to decide, the design professionals can show how this area can look in the future when managed growth principles are applied. A primary reason people give for moving to the area north of Prattville is the school system. 

The DesignDash team also helped participants visualize how the intersection at U.S. Hwy 31 and I-65 could look, which is the only intersection on I-65 in Autauga County. The team provided participants with a report and now the community will build on those ideas when it participates in DesignVision, a two-day community visioning workshop held in partnership with Auburn University’s Urban Studio.

“DesignDash was a precursor for the DesignVision application process, opening the door for us to apply for the DesignVision Workshop and the Autauga County team is thrilled the U.S. 31 corridor was selected by DesignAlabama as the site for the 2022 fall DesignVision workshop,” says Pieper.

“We look forward to welcoming the Auburn University Urban Studio students to our community. These talented students will immerse themselves into our community, especially along the 31-corridor. As a county, the cost to bring in experts for opportunities like this would be prohibitive, so we are grateful to DesignAlabama for offering this program, and thank our partners CAEC [Central Alabama Electric Cooperative] and CARPDC [Central Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission] for bringing this opportunity to fruition.”

Implementing improvements will be determined by county elected officials along with the stakeholders who make up the Hwy 31 corridor, Byard says. As past chair of the DesignAlabama Board of Directors and resident of nearby Prattville, Byard thought this corridor would be a perfect project for DesignDash and DesignVision. So, he brought the idea to Autauga County officials and introduced them to Gina Clifford, Executive Director of DesignAlabama.

“Our local leaders took it from there,” adds Byard. “I’m glad that they see the need for good design in this unincorporated area that is considered the entryway to Autauga County along I-65.”

*Article Written by Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy of DesignAlabama

A little doodle here, a little color there, and voila! – the perfect logo takes form. If only it were that simple. Designing a logo may seem relatively easy, but it’s deceptively difficult to achieve. A memorable logo involves research, much deliberation and a capable designer.

The Alabama State Council on the Arts found just the right designer – Anna Carter of AMD Creative in Birmingham – to create a logo for Celebration of the Alabama Arts, the Council’s biennial event that shines a spotlight on arts and creativity in Alabama and individuals who make significant contributions to the state’s rich cultural landscape. The previous logo had been around for 20 years, so it was time to update and modernize the program’s logo to better reflect its mission.

“For the Council on the Arts’ 2022 Celebration of Alabama Arts, we wanted to feature a new logo design that is cohesive and adaptable to diverse usages and speaks to Alabama’s vibrancy and creativity element,” explains Council on the Arts’ Executive Director, Dr. Elliot Knight. “The rebranding effort also included an updated name for the awards program, which, along with the logo, allowed us to highlight our appreciation for the art and creativity that abounds within our state – and the people who make it possible.”

When Carter, AMD Creative’s head graphic designer, first met with the Alabama State Council on the Arts she was happy about their excitement in re-branding and willingness to let her explore her creative side to see what she could come up with. Carter says this freedom allowed her to let her creativity flow to explore all design possibilities.

Typically, Carter spends most of her time before she begins designing looking to nature for guidance.  Nature provides the simple lines and geometric shapes that drive her design aesthetic which can be seen throughout most of her creative work. Her inspiration for the icon began when she started thinking about the word celebration. Her combination of modern sleek lines with geometric shapes brought about the firework icon that provides an eye-catching and memorable mark for those passing by it. Colors play an important role in determining a brand’s message and do so with this logo.

“When approaching this logo design, I wanted to make sure to give the Alabama State Council on the Arts a design that would remain as a timeless mark for the organization to be able to use for many years to come,” Carter explains. “Taking time to sit down and establish a cohesive look for any program you put on as an organization is important. Branding helps your audience to better understand your event’s mission and allows viewers to better connect with the values of the organization.”

As Carter began her design process, she worked with the Alabama State Council on the Arts to create three different logo options. This gave the Council the opportunity to “see a wide range of ideas and get their brains turning on what designs catch their eye,” she adds.

This process helps clients quickly determine what they like and do not like. From this process, and a few edits in between, she was able to narrow it down to the option that was selected. This logo was chosen because of its clean, sleek modern look while also maintaining fun elements that could be used all together to recognize the brand as a whole or be separated.

Her combination of rounded geometric forms and the script CA design brought together the playful, eye-catching icon. She also included the radiating lines coming out of the top of the icon to evoke a feeling of excitement. Lastly, she chose an energetic yet calming color palette to pair with the branding to complete the overall look.

“When people view this logo, I hope they will be inspired by the whimsical beauty of the arts and feel a creative spark ignite inside of them,” she says. “This logo should be an encouraging beacon for those making an impact on the Alabama arts community.”

*Article Written by Jessica Armstrong and Images Courtesy of Anna Carter of AMD Creative