As one of the largest cities in the United States, there is no shortage of images that can be used to define Phoenix, Arizona. However, the Phoenix Bird is the city’s official corporate symbol, highlighting what it can mean when a city actively embraces a single identity in multiple ways. Doing so has defined an icon for the city while also creating countless opportunities for the entire community.
The History of the Phoenix Bird
The Hohokam people lived in what is today the state of Arizona for many centuries, but the modern city was formed in the mid-1800s in the ruins of this former civilization that vanished into history. This is the origin of the name “phoenix,” which connects to the myth of the phoenix bird that symbolizes immortality, resurrection and life after death.
Phoenix was recognized in 1868 when the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors formed an election precinct. The city’s connection to the myth of the phoenix bird was the reason that many departments designed their own unique phoenix bird, which they displayed on municipal signs, stationery, city vehicles and employee uniforms.
To eliminate the complexities that came with so many different versions of the phoenix bird, the city decided to establish one Phoenix Bird symbol to represent the city. Presentations were eventually made to a nine-member Phoenix Bird Design Selection Panel at the Phoenix Civic Plaza in front of an audience of several hundred people that voted on the design. The winning entry was a design by the firm of Smit Ghormley Sanft.
That effort and decision created an icon for the city that has facilitated a direct and indirect impact on the culture and economy of the entire region.
An Icon of and for Phoenix
To fully define the icon, the city of Phoenix established a unified way to implement the Phoenix Bird. This allowed it to become especially well-recognized as a symbol for the city. It is also protected under copyright and trademark law. That protection has enabled countless revenue opportunities that the city has utilized directly and indirectly.
The appearance of the Phoenix Bird on pieces of merchandise underscores what these direct opportunities can look like. The creative interpretation of the Phoenix Bird by others highlight the indirect opportunities that have been further cultivated. Organizations that range from the police department to non-profits to restaurants have been able to interpret this logo in their own creative ways. Additionally, cities in other areas utilize the icon of the Phoenix Bird to connect with the city.
While many cities and entire countries have utilized a symbol or icon to define their identity, few have connected that identity to a specific icon that is officially and unofficially united in such a powerful way. Doing so showcases what it looks like to define a monument that spans eras and audiences.
A Legacy That Connects the Past and Future
Icons of cities and regions often have limitations in terms of how they can be utilized and the copyright protections of the Phoenix Bird present similar limitations. However, those limitations are connected to the specific design of the Phoenix Bird, which many have interpreted in their own manner, highlighting the incredible opportunities that can be enabled when an icon is defined in such a specific manner but can still be interpreted in so many different ways to impact the hearts and minds of residents and visitors.
