New eye-catching billboards showcase Grinnell

GRINNELL — After living in California, Arizona, Georgia, Rhode Island and overseas, Anya Hart has made a home in Grinnell.

In a short few months, the 24-year-old, a graphic artist with a degree from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island has already left her mark on the Grinnell community.

It was Hart who designed the new 24-by-10-foot Grinnell billboards located just east and west of Grinnell along Interstate 80.

Hart said it all came about thanks to a chance meeting with Adrienne Hardin, the community development specialist with the City of Grinnell.

Hart was working with her boyfriend, Tommy Hexter, the former executive director of Grinnell’s Farm to Table, on rebranding the local foods business.

“I designed the shirts and hats, created a new logo and painted the building,” said Hart.

That’s when Hardin came into the picture.

Hardin was charged with finding someone to create new billboards for the City of Grinnell. She said the previous Grinnell billboards were about 12 — 13 years old and had become outdated and weathered.

“The new billboards were part of a broader effort to improve visitors' first impressions of Grinnell, as well as to catch the eye of interstate drivers and encourage them to stop and explore what our community has to offer,” Hardin said.

Hardin saw the T-shirt Hart had designed for Grinnell Farm to Table and wanted that illustration and style on the billboards, Hardin said.

“Her style was exactly the direction we wanted to go — whimsical, eye-catching, colorful, and fun,” said Hardin. “I reached out to see if she might be interested in taking on the project, and luckily, she was. Working with Anya was an absolute delight; she brought creativity, energy, and fun to the whole process.”

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“[The City of Grinnell] wanted the billboard to look like a vintage postcard with the Sullivan Bank,” Hart said.

Hart spent some time looking for Grinnell ideas and landmarks for the billboard project. She considered local foods, parks, bicycle trails, water tower, trains, pizza, purple cone flowers, Gold Finch birds, the Brew House, Dairy Barn, Kites over Grinnell and the farmers’ market.

Hart then started the initial sketches and mapped out the composition of the illustration.

Hart worked alongside representatives from the Grinnell’s Tourism Committee. Hardin said they were the driving force behind the project.

“They allocated the budget, set the overall direction, reviewed the design concepts, requested revisions, and ultimately approved the final artwork,” said Hardin.

Hart said it was decided not to include the train or farmers market in the final design in order to help the billboard project flow.

The whole design process took about 1 1/2 months from the start to final design approval.

“I'm thrilled with how they turned out,” said Hardin. “The new billboards do an amazing job of highlighting the unique and whimsical character of Grinnell. The ultimate goal with the billboards was to catch the attention of people who might otherwise drive past exit 182, and I think we've accomplished that. At the very least, we've made I-80 a little less boring.”

“I was happily surprised,” said Hart of the finished project. “It is the most visual project I have done.”

Hart said the eastbound sign is made of eight panels on printed aluminum. The westbound sign is printed on a one-piece vinyl.

The billboard west of the exit went up Oct. 10. The eastbound sign was delayed a few days due to rain, but was installed Oct. 17.

“Latitude handled the installation and was an outstanding partner through the project,” said Hardin.

In addition to the billboard signs and the work at Farm to Table, Hart created a mural for the Grinnell community gardens on a shipping container under the direction of Giving Grinnell.

“I have also been working with Evan Petig and Abby Copeman Petig, the new owners of the former Carriage House (The Grinnellian) to do their rebranding,” said Hart.

“I’m open to work,” said Hart. “The more projects, the better.”

Hart can be reached via her website, anyahart.myportfolio.com or via email at anyahartdesign@outlook.com.