So when they set out to start their own design business, the first thing they wanted was a project that would benefit Fort Dodge.

Just what that project would be remained a mystery until Colin Gargano, who lives in Carlisle, did some internet research and learned that the city received its official charter in 1869, 150 years ago.

“I said, ‘Guys, this is perfect,'” Colin Gargano recalled.

Brendan Gargano, of Kansas City, Missouri; Christian Gargano, of Fort Dodge; and Colin Gargano decided last year that a 150th anniversary logo would be the first project of their new business, called Other Brother Design Collective.

-Submitted image
This is one of the two logos to acknowledge the 150th anniversary of Fort Dodge’s charter that were approved by the Fort Dodge City Council on Monday.

“We’re doing this for free for the city,” Brendan Gargano said.

The brothers agreed early in the design process that images of the Oleson Park Bandshell or the Fort Museum and Frontier Village are so common that they are, as Brendan Gargano put it: “over done.”

“We were just trying to look for something different,” he said.

They decided to feature the clock tower atop the Webster County Courthouse in the design.

“We just thought it was something that was really iconic,” Brendan Gargano said. “We thought it would be a cool thing to feature.”

-Submitted image
This is one of the two logos to acknowledge the 150th anniversary of Fort Dodge’s charter that were approved by the Fort Dodge City Council on Monday.

Colin Gargano added that the clock tower “really symbolizes Fort Dodge.”

The logos were created by Brendan Gargano.

“Brendan started working real quick,” Colin Gargano said.

As he worked, the brothers exchanged a series of text messages to fine tune the designs.

“We love growing as designers by bouncing ideas off of each other,” Christian Gargano said.

But they still had to find out if there was any local interest in the 150th anniversary.

To find out, Brendan Gargano sent an email, including the proposed logos, to Fort Dodge City Councilman Dave Flattery late last year.

Flattery replied, writing that he wasn’t aware of the 150th anniversary and didn’t know if anyone in Fort Dodge was doing anything about it.

In a subsequent email, Flattery wrote to Brendan Gargano that he had talked to some other people in Fort Dodge and there was some interest in the anniversary.

Early this year, Flattery contacted Brendan Gargano again, asking for his input on the choice of a logo.

The Garganos had submitted about eight designs.

A committee that included Mayor Matt Bemrich; Councilwoman Lydia Schuur; Kris Patrick, executive director of Main Street Fort Dodge; Eric Anderson, director of the Blanden Memorial Art Museum; local historian Roger Natte; Cory Bargfrede, advertising director of The Messenger; and Flattery, whittled the list down to two.

The committee then asked Brendan Gargano for his input.

He suggested that the city use both logos.

The two designs were adopted by the City Council on March 25.

The designs are not reserved for official city business only. The Gargano brothers expect them to be used on T-shirts, medallions and other items.

“They can be used for anything,” Christian Gargano said.

About the Gargano brothers

Brendan Gargano is a freelance graphic designer in Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from St. Edmond High School and Iowa State University in Ames.

Christian Gargano, of Fort Dodge, is a visual merchandiser for Target. He is a graduate of St. Edmond High School, Iowa Central Community College and the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.

Colin Gargano, of Carlisle, does digital media and marketing work for Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines. He is a graduate of St. Edmond High School, Iowa Central Community College and Iowa State University.

They are the sons of Mark Gargano and Tammy Ireland.