Commissioners approve variation of design submitted by resident Rachel Manzano
On Nov. 7, the Sarasota City Commission unanimously adopted a new City of Sarasota seal.
Designed by DreamLarge, “with widespread collaboration” from members of the community, as a city news release points out, the new seal replaces the original version, which dates back to the city’s incorporation in 1902.
“The new seal celebrates the natural beauty of the city’s iconic waterfront and features Sarasota’s 120-year-old motto, “May Sarasota Prosper,” the release adds.
In November 2021, the city partnered with DreamLarge, “the first registered benefit corporation on the Gulf Coast of Florida,” to engage with the public in an effort to understand better how residents see Sarasota, “with the overall goal of redesigning the City’s seal and logo,” the release adds.
The seal, which is stamped on official City of Sarasota documents, differs from the city logo, which features a silhouette of Michelangelo’s statue of David, the release explains.
The design selection process included a range of community engagement efforts, including a public survey that received more than 2,600 responses, the release notes. The subsequent public design contest garnered more than 172 submissions from 148 entries, the release says.
The top five seal designs were chosen by a panel of diverse community members, including a number of local artists, the release continues. The persons who submitted those designs were Rachel Manzano, Cynthia Clasgens, Sarah Scire, Brooks Tracey and Bill Greaves.
“It was a thoughtful, inclusive process,” said Mayor Erik Arroyo in the release. “The result is a classic, sophisticated seal that pays tribute to the past while reflecting our standing as a top destination, a natural paradise and cultural hub,” he added in the release. “This seal represents the Sarasota we know and love and will become an iconic symbol.”
The final seal was a collaboration between DreamLarge and city resident Manzano, the release points out.