MU art class revamps cruisers

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MU art class revamps cruisers

Dept. to post top three designs on Internet for residents' input

Caroline Briggs

Issue date: 3/2/07 Section: Community

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Media Credit: File

After a new design is chosen, the Oxford Police Department will recieve three new cars per year based on replacement need until the fleet has 20 cars in uniform.

Within the coming year, Oxford Police Department (OPD) will be sporting a new look on its cruisers - a black and white design tailored by a Miami University student in the graphic design program.

According to Sgt. Jim Squance, students in ART 352: Identity Systems created 18 car composites that officers and community members will vote on to decide what the new cruisers will look like.

The officers at OPD will pick their top three, then the top three from the station will be tallied, and those will be posted on the police page at www.cityofoxford.org, so that community members get their say in voting for the graphics beginning Friday, March 9.

"The chief (Steve Schwein) thought this would be a good community project and a good way to get students involved," Squance said.

According to Squance, the police cars haven't been updated since 1992. He said the force will be getting about three new cars per year starting this year based on replacement need, until the fleet of about 20 is uniform.

The new cruisers will also feature a new black and white exterior that is different from the current all white cars. Squance said the price difference was marginal, and the new colors will mark OPD cruisers as unique from the other police agencies in surrounding areas and Miami University Police Department especially.

Tom Effler, associate professor and provost in the School of Fine Arts, was contacted by OPD last semester about his students taking on the project. Coincidentally, Effler said the Art 352 class already focused on logos, identities, and symbols for their class earlier in spring semester.

"We are on an academic mission rather than being a service to the community, but this (project) just happens to fit the curriculum and time frame," Effler said.

Effler said his students were put into a realistic circumstance in their field of graphic design by talking to the client, familiarizing themselves with the cars, and researching the project.

One student went so far as to take pictures of the cruisers and visit other local police stations to see their models.

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