On Tuesday, Jan. 21, the Marblehead Festival of Arts held its annual Logo Premiere Party at The Landing restaurant in Marblehead, where Justin DeRosa and his logo, depicting the Marblehead lighthouse was proudly announced as the 2025 winner.
Justin DeRosa, originally from New York, has lived in Swampscott for five years. A professional graphic designer with a 22-year career in the fashion industry, DeRosa was previously a Logo Contest semifinalist in 2022 before securing this year’s winning design.
“It was really nice to get recognition,” DeRosa said about his 2022 design, “Once I did that year, I wanted to do it again.”
DeRosa has extensive history and experience in the fashion industry working on brands many love including Ralph Lauren, Aeropostale, and currently Gap where he does design work for logos, marketing, tags, and more.
The festival invited professional and nonprofessional artists who reside, work, attend school, or belong to an arts association in Essex County to submit entries for the 59th annual Marblehead Festival of Arts Logo Contest. This long-standing and prestigious competition, as old as the festival itself, produces a one-of-a-kind design to symbolize each year’s event.
From the entries, experienced judges selected semifinalists and then narrowed the selection to several finalists. The public then determined the winner by ballot in December 2024, awarding the victory to DeRosa, who received a $150 prize.
Although the prize is wonderful, DeRosa wasn’t in it for the prize, “It’s just fun and to be a part of the community is rewarding,” he said.
After public voting had concluded, the Festival asked DeRosa if his winning design could be updated to portray the iconic Marblehead light tower at Chandler Hovey Park. He readily agreed to adjust, ensuring the logo fully reflected the town’s coastal heritage.
Festival logos appear on merchandise, signage, web pages, and a variety of materials throughout the year, including exhibits, performing arts concerts, and artisan marketplaces. The logo will be prominently featured as the festival’s visual identity, appearing at the highly anticipated summer arts festival and other events year-round.
As the Marblehead Festival of Arts kicks off over the July 4th weekend (July 3–6, 2025), the semifinalist and finalist designs will be displayed at the Logo Exhibit, giving attendees a chance to see the creative works that shaped this year’s competition.
DeRosa’s achievement marks a milestone in his artistic journey, and his work will now be a lasting part of the festival’s storied history.