About the project:
The purpose of the public design contest is to allow the larger community to play a role in the development of Sarasota’s evolving brand. The existing seal, which features marine life, coastal imagery and the words “May Sarasota Prosper,” is used on official City documents and dates back to the City’s incorporation in 1902.

The seal design contest comes as part of a rebranding effort approved by the City Commission in 2021. The City has partnered with Sarasota’s DreamLarge to conduct community outreach efforts that include the seal contest and last month’s public survey on how the community sees Sarasota. 

The contest is open from May 1 - June 15 and is open to everyone.

How do I submit my design?
Starting May 1, the public will be able to submit their seal designs digitally through an online form. All digital submission types (JPEG, PNG, PDF, etc) will be accepted. Hand drawn seals can be scanned or photographed and submitted through the same online platform. For those that cannot submit digitally, physical submissions can mailed to the address below.

DreamLarge
1421 Blvd of the Arts
Sarasota, FL 34236

The proposed may include images, text, or a combination of both, but all components of the seal must be circular in shape. The seal can be black and white or color. All participants will be required to submit a narrative that explains the submitted design. Submissions must be received online or by mail by June 15 to be considered.

Do I need to be a professional designer to enter?
No! The seal design competition is open to all, regardless of age, skill level and background. All are encouraged to apply! Since designs can be submitted in multiple formats from a variety of skill sets, DreamLarge may tweak or modify them to promote equitability amongst submissions.

Submissions will be posted publicly to this website as they are received. Publicly posted submissions will be kept anonymous.

Is there a cost to enter?
There is no cost to enter the contest.

What does the current seal look like?
The current seal, which was selected when Sarasota was incorporated in 1902, features a mullet, palmettos and shells alongside the words, “May Sarasota Prosper.” A city seal is an official emblem or insignia that represents a city and can be used on City buildings, to mark official documents, and more.

PLEASE NOTE: The City seal differs from the logo. The current logo, which features a silhouette of the statue of David, will be refreshed by DreamLarge later this year and will be presented to the commission in the fall. The Seal Design Contest is solely for the redesign of the City seal, NOT the logo.

How will the final City seal be chosen?
Following the closure of the contest, the top five seals will be selected by a diverse panel of community members across different industries and background. Top designs will be presented to the City Commission later this summer. A backup of all designs will also be submitted for public record.