After 26 years, the Oak Park Farmers’ Market has a new logo.
The logo, from Oak Park-born designer Judith Mayer, was selected by the Farmers’ Market Commission and features a farm scene inspired by the Frank Lloyd Wright design aesthetic.
According to the artist, “I created a logo that puts a stylish twist on the Prairie style, emphasizing artisanship and simplicity like a Frank Lloyd Wright design, while still feeling contemporary.
“It employs diagonals for energy, a monoline for sleekness, rounded ends for a touch of softness and hand-drawn lettering to fit the words perfectly in a rectangular block. The logomark and the logotype components can be used in many different configurations for flexibility.”
The new logo will debut on T-shirts, tote bags, and stickers available for sale at the market starting June 25.
The old Oak Park Farmers’ Market logo
For 26 years, the market used the same logo. It was designed by Charlotte Lyons, a textile artist and teacher who now lives in Vermont. She lived in Oak Park from 1983 to 1997 with her daughters Erin, Maggie and Mo.
She now lives in a country village in southern Vermont. “I design playful embroidery panels for stitchers and teach textile arts through in-person and online workshops,” she said. “My newest design is called ‘Oak Park’ featuring yet another pink house, a recurring nod to our beloved pink Victorian on South Taylor.”
When asked what inspired her to create the familiar market design, she said, “We loved the Farmers’ Market! Donuts, music, friends, food! All the visual imagery!
“The [old now retiring logo] is actually the second one I designed for the market. The first was in 1994 – a colorful paper cutting of vegetables, flowers and fruit. At the time I was designing and printing shirts for schools as fundraisers, beginning with my ‘Beye School, So Cool’ shirt that I created when my children went there. I still remember that first Farmers’ Market pitch to the committee at Village Hall and how nervous I was. The second and current design was also a paper cutting I did in my home studio. It was and still is such a favorite for me.”
In addition to the Farmers’ Market and Beye School designs, Lyons also screen-printed shirts for Hatch, Holmes, Mann, Longfellow, CAST productions, Orchesis, Day in Our Village and small businesses.
Reflecting on her time in Oak Park, Lyons said, “We are so grateful for our time in Oak Park. Absolutely cherished as the magic years in our family story! … [I’m] excited to see the new design and to visit the village again sometime.”
Reach Charlotte Lyons through her website, Instagram and Etsy sites. Her website includes her newsletter.