Troy Colt Bands - Rebrand - Garrett Jafano Portfolio

Rebranding the Troy Colt Bands: Honoring Tradition, Building for the Future

The Troy Colt Bands have always held a special place in my heart. As a former member during my time at Troy High School in Troy, Michigan, the program profoundly shaped who I am today. Music is a powerful force, but what truly made the experience life-changing was the community, the people, the dedication, and the shared pursuit of excellence.

Even after graduation, I’ve been fortunate to stay connected with TCB in different ways, from working as an instructor at band camp to now serving as the camp coordinator. Being able to give back to the program that gave me so much has been a privilege. Most recently, I had the opportunity to contribute in a new way, by rebranding the Troy Colt Bands with a modern, effective identity designed to serve the program for decades to come.

Rebranding the Troy Colt Bands: Honoring Tradition, Building for the Future

The Troy Colt Bands have always held a special place in my heart. As a former member during my time at Troy High School in Troy, Michigan, the program profoundly shaped who I am today. Music is a powerful force, but what truly made the experience life-changing was the community, the people, the dedication, and the shared pursuit of excellence.

Even after graduation, I’ve been fortunate to stay connected with TCB in different ways, from working as an instructor at band camp to now serving as the camp coordinator. Being able to give back to the program that gave me so much has been a privilege. Most recently, I had the opportunity to contribute in a new way, by rebranding the Troy Colt Bands with a modern, effective identity designed to serve the program for decades to come.

Rebranding the Troy Colt Bands: Honoring Tradition, Building for the Future

The Troy Colt Bands have always held a special place in my heart. As a former member during my time at Troy High School in Troy, Michigan, the program profoundly shaped who I am today. Music is a powerful force, but what truly made the experience life-changing was the community, the people, the dedication, and the shared pursuit of excellence.

Even after graduation, I’ve been fortunate to stay connected with TCB in different ways, from working as an instructor at band camp to now serving as the camp coordinator. Being able to give back to the program that gave me so much has been a privilege. Most recently, I had the opportunity to contribute in a new way, by rebranding the Troy Colt Bands with a modern, effective identity designed to serve the program for decades to come.

The Need for a Fresh Identity

For many years, the program’s logo was a monogram of “T” and “C” with the word “Bands” placed at the bottom of the “T.” While it carried historical weight, the design was tied more to the high school’s identity than to the band program itself. TCB lacked a visual identity of their own, one that could reflect the distinct culture, spirit, and pride of the band while still staying connected to the school.

One of the primary goals of the rebrand was to put the emphasis back on the “Band” while ensuring it remained rooted in Troy High’s traditions. The challenge was to strike a balance between honoring legacy and introducing something fresh, forward-looking, and uniquely “TCB.”

The Need for a Fresh Identity

For many years, the program’s logo was a monogram of “T” and “C” with the word “Bands” placed at the bottom of the “T.” While it carried historical weight, the design was tied more to the high school’s identity than to the band program itself. TCB lacked a visual identity of their own, one that could reflect the distinct culture, spirit, and pride of the band while still staying connected to the school.

One of the primary goals of the rebrand was to put the emphasis back on the “Band” while ensuring it remained rooted in Troy High’s traditions. The challenge was to strike a balance between honoring legacy and introducing something fresh, forward-looking, and uniquely “TCB.”

The Need for a Fresh Identity

For many years, the program’s logo was a monogram of “T” and “C” with the word “Bands” placed at the bottom of the “T.” While it carried historical weight, the design was tied more to the high school’s identity than to the band program itself. TCB lacked a visual identity of their own, one that could reflect the distinct culture, spirit, and pride of the band while still staying connected to the school.

One of the primary goals of the rebrand was to put the emphasis back on the “Band” while ensuring it remained rooted in Troy High’s traditions. The challenge was to strike a balance between honoring legacy and introducing something fresh, forward-looking, and uniquely “TCB.”

Designing the New Direction

The final design took inspiration directly from the world of music. At the core of the new logo is the integration of the musical staff with the image of the Colt horseshoe, a symbol that has long represented the program. This combination not only visually anchors the brand in music but also ties it to the school’s mascot and identity.

From a brand perspective, another key influence was the Troy High alma mater and its lyric, “Black and Silver Waving.” This line became central to the visual language, inspiring silver accents and wave-like design elements that reflect pride, motion, and unity.

Designing the New Direction

The final design took inspiration directly from the world of music. At the core of the new logo is the integration of the musical staff with the image of the Colt horseshoe, a symbol that has long represented the program. This combination not only visually anchors the brand in music but also ties it to the school’s mascot and identity.

From a brand perspective, another key influence was the Troy High alma mater and its lyric, “Black and Silver Waving.” This line became central to the visual language, inspiring silver accents and wave-like design elements that reflect pride, motion, and unity.

Designing the New Direction

The final design took inspiration directly from the world of music. At the core of the new logo is the integration of the musical staff with the image of the Colt horseshoe, a symbol that has long represented the program. This combination not only visually anchors the brand in music but also ties it to the school’s mascot and identity.

From a brand perspective, another key influence was the Troy High alma mater and its lyric, “Black and Silver Waving.” This line became central to the visual language, inspiring silver accents and wave-like design elements that reflect pride, motion, and unity.

A Flexible and Lasting System

The new logo was designed with versatility in mind. It can be broken into parts based on usage. The wordmark is bold and modern, perfect for larger layouts or official documents, while the symbol, a treble clef interwoven with the horseshoe, works beautifully on its own for smaller applications like social media icons, merchandise, and signage.

Along with the new mark, the rebrand introduced updated colors, fonts, and visual layouts that give the program a polished and consistent look. This work also extended to a brand-new website, built to showcase the program in a modern, accessible way that reflects the excellence of its students, directors, and community.

A Flexible and Lasting System

The new logo was designed with versatility in mind. It can be broken into parts based on usage. The wordmark is bold and modern, perfect for larger layouts or official documents, while the symbol, a treble clef interwoven with the horseshoe, works beautifully on its own for smaller applications like social media icons, merchandise, and signage.

Along with the new mark, the rebrand introduced updated colors, fonts, and visual layouts that give the program a polished and consistent look. This work also extended to a brand-new website, built to showcase the program in a modern, accessible way that reflects the excellence of its students, directors, and community.

A Flexible and Lasting System

The new logo was designed with versatility in mind. It can be broken into parts based on usage. The wordmark is bold and modern, perfect for larger layouts or official documents, while the symbol, a treble clef interwoven with the horseshoe, works beautifully on its own for smaller applications like social media icons, merchandise, and signage.

Along with the new mark, the rebrand introduced updated colors, fonts, and visual layouts that give the program a polished and consistent look. This work also extended to a brand-new website, built to showcase the program in a modern, accessible way that reflects the excellence of its students, directors, and community.

WORK