Explore Calhoun, Gordon County

How We Helped

Ad campaign
Branding
Brochure design
Business system
Copywriting
Digital advertising
Eblast templates
Environmental graphics
Naming
PPT templates
Social media marketing
Swag

A New Year, A New Name, A New Brand

In January 2025, Explore Gordon County asked R&R to partner on a global brand change that included their name, their logo and their entire visual experience. Talk about a dream project! We of course jumped at the opportunity to help usher in this new identity for the organization. Through research and immersion, we quickly discovered the “why” behind the need for the name change. Turns out, few people are familiar with the county name, “Gordon,” whereas many are aware of the city name, “Calhoun.”

We realized this small shift would lead to mightier brand recognition for the area. Beyond identifying the need for the name change, our conversations with key decision-makers also identified a need to create a more accurate depiction of the city and the county as a flourishing tourism entity, rich in outdoor amenities and rural charm.

A Bright, Accessible New Brand

The mark, which was designed for cross-channel use cases, is able to quickly convey to viewers that Explore Calhoun-Gordon County is the ideal destination for travelers to stop, play and savor life’s little moments together.

Flexible Assets, Better Storytelling

Beyond the logomark, the Explore Calhoun-Gordon County team needed a completely new suite of flexible assets that they could use to better tell their true story. That means we had the chance to redesign nearly every piece of their business system, including business cards, name tags, door signage, letterhead, notecards and envelopes, eblast headers and PowerPoint templates.

Explore Calhoun Esignature — E-signature

Explore Calhoun tradeshow booth — Tradeshow Booth

In addition to the day-to-day organizational communication tools, we also designed externally-focused marketing materials for promoting the destination far and wide. From tradeshow assets including a tablecloth, pop-up banner, rack card and postcard to a comprehensive ad campaign for 2026 that can now be seen on billboards throughout Georgia and across a who’s who of print publications such as USA Today, Atlanta Magazine, Southern Living and Savor.

Creative Concepts Beyond the Core Brand

Prior to the rebranding initiative, we had been working with the Calhoun team to develop playful design materials that would foster more meaningful connection with the organization’s key target markets. These pieces included 13 die-cut stickers that highlight local tourism amenities along with a full holiday event experience called Snowman Spectacular. One might say that both the stickers and the event were sticky, and though they were brand agnostic to begin with, they have since been updated to family with the new look and feel.

Flat lay of stickers showcasing Calhoun's attractions

Event Branding that is snow good

Communities throughout Georgia (and the United States) have created their own holiday-centered events and Explore Calhoun-Gordon County wanted to bring the delightfulness to their destination. And thus, Snowman Spectacular was born. The festive experience, which held its inaugural event in December of 2023, has become a local favorite and shows how the tourism entity and the recreation department can work together to bring snow much fun! Not to mention, well-branded print and digital communication materials help to keep everyone in the snow.

Confetti-Worthy Results

Since launching the rename and rebrand in the middle of 2025, Explore Calhoun-Gordon County has received incredible anecdotal appreciation from their community and tourism partners. Additionally, the postcards and stickers continue to fly off the shelves and their ads have been acclaimed by publishers. The success of the rebrand is felt both externally and internally, making it a well-loved point of pride for all.