The Flint Local 432 logo
Joel Rash, the founder, and designer of the logo for the Flint Local 432, developed this logo when he was in a rock band as a teenager in 1994.1 Rash had opened the Flint Local 432 to offer a drug and alcohol-free venue for musicians to play music. He wanted to present a space for younger people to pursue music. He also created this space to invite younger people to a rock setting that would usually only allow people 21 or older due to alcohol.2 This became incredibly popular in downtown Flint and drew in younger people not only to create music but also to make friends. The Flint Local 432 was started by a group of friends who wanted to enjoy music and togetherness. While it was easier to find information on the totality of the Flint Local 432, it was more difficult to find why Rash designed the logo in the way he did. The skull painted in the middle could demonstrate the role rock music had in his and his band’s life when creating the Flint Local 432. The guitar tops at the top of the skull could also represent their origin, but then we can see how they turn into tools at the bottom of the skull.
While looking at how Rash described the goal the Flint Local 432 had to allow space for younger people to enjoy music, I could see how these tools could represent how the building itself created and built this space. It could also be viewed as how people were able to fine-tune their musical skills by being able to perform on a stage in front of people. The use of a graffiti-type font is well used for this design. It stays true to a rock feel but shows the essence of Flint within it. The font for the ‘local’ section reminded me of a tattoo font, which could have been used to draw people who were younger rather than older folks. This logo was carefully crafted to draw in their desired crowd and worked well for them as well as other businesses around Flint Local 432.
After closing and reopening in 2006, Rash decided to change the logo from a skull and guitars to an anchor. With this reopening, he wanted to welcome all ages and all skill sets to perform. The anchor symbolizes unity to describe this further, and the logo itself was given a slick finish to make it look more modern. The Flint Local 432 is now open to not only music artists but also to standup and improv comedians, dance events, films, and more.3 The thing that has remained common, however, is the younger demographic filling the building. The Flint Local 432 has created a place for younger people to find themselves in their talents and allow them a safe outlet to share what they have learned with the public. It has drawn more younger people to downtown Flint than before, and it is helping the city grow community again.
