Blog

|

Branding

We design for love.

But, having a stand-out mission doesn’t always come with a stand-out budget. That’s why we take on pro-bono LOVE PROJECTS. We want you to stand out! View our newest project below and then, make your pitch. Submit an idea for MGD to design pro-bono.   Inspiring a Divided Nation MGD’s Most Recent LOVE PROJECT   In 2016, after one of the most…

Read More

The Value of Our Voices

January 16, 2017 Branding, New Work

After such a divisive and vitriolic presidential campaign, a hole started to grow in my heart. I felt hopeless. Saddened. Selfishly, I longed for comfort. Selflessly, I prayed for national unity. I became desperate for a dialogue centered on what we all value as Americans: respect, love, acceptance, common good, compassion. As a designer, I wondered how…

Read More

BZBI’s True Colors

March 8, 2016 Branding, New Work

Last year, Philadelphia’s Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel (BZBI) received a brand refresh when we designed their new website. We were inspired by the synagogue’s Neo-Gothic building and their extensive roster of community programs that aim to educate, engage and foster a feeling of belonging. To capture the vibrancy and excitement found in their engagement efforts, we infused the site with…

Read More

marketplayce

December 1, 2015 Branding, Logos

Two years after branding The Play Café in Bryn Mawr, we were approached by owner Lauren Ainsworth to assist with the naming, design and implementation of their new retail component, code-named “the shop” at the time. We brainstormed a handful of possible names and sketched visual representations of each one. Some solutions are solely typographic,…

Read More

Redefining The Phelps School

June 26, 2015 Books, Branding, Publications

The Phelps School in Malvern, Pennsylvania is a unique and extraordinary boarding and day school for boys in grades six through 12. But it faced a challenge. The School’s external identity was not reflective of its true character—it didn’t capture what differentiates Phelps from other educational institutions, nor did it clearly communicate why a prospective…

Read More

L’chaim—TO LIFE!

April 21, 2015 Branding, Logos

Nine months ago, Masters Group Design was selected to create a new name, tagline, logo, visual identity and positioning language for the Klein JCC in Northeast Philadelphia. Today, the fruits of that labor are being realized as the organization’s new identity is officially launched and a new life begins. It was nearly 40 years ago…

Read More

Creating The Visual Connection For LBBC

March 3, 2015 Branding, Logos

This fall, Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) will be celebrating 25 years of service and support. They are also planning a major move to accommodate their growing enterprise, followed by the launch of a new, more responsive website—a critical tool in their suite of exceptional information products. The confluence of these three major milestones…

Read More

Monday Marks: #1

  Every Monday, for twenty-one consecutive weeks, we have blogged about a graphic mark (or marks) designed by our creative team. This series started on our 21st birthday—May 19, 2014 and officially ends TODAY with our final mark. The animation above features the graphic mark that launched this series—an origami fortune teller. Why you ask? Excellent question. We challenged…

Read More

Monday Mark: #2

September 29, 2014 Branding, Logos, Monday Marks

CLIENTS Next Egg, Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia Sinfonia, Philadelphia, PA Kleinbard Bell & Brecker LLP, Philadelphia, PA Ortner-Unity, The Center on Family Violence (University of Pennsylvania), Philadelphia, PA ReMarks Today we’re visiting a few marks that have something in common—a graceful calligraphic shape. These examples explore how a hand-drawn swirl or an arc can communicate different ideas based on the context, color…

Read More

Monday Marks: #3

September 22, 2014 Branding, Logos, Monday Marks

  This Wednesday evening, Jews around the globe will be ushering in year 5775. To mark the new year, we’re featuring logos that we’ve created for three very different synagogues—one reconstructionist, one reform and one with no movement affiliation. ReMarks Kehillah Synagogue, Chapel Hill, NC In Hebrew, Kehillah means community. In this community, congregants enjoy a true sense of belonging, are valued as…

Read More

Monday Marks: #4

September 15, 2014 Branding, Event Graphics, Logos, Monday Marks

CLIENT Community Legal Services of Philadelphia (CLS), Philadelphia, PA BACKGROUND Over the past twelve years, we’ve had the privilege of working with CLS, a local non-profit organization that provides free legal services, in civil matters, to low-income Philadelphians. Providing equal access to justice is their daily mission. It is also a theme that has united several of  their fundraising initiatives…

Read More

Monday Marks: #5

September 8, 2014 Branding, Logos, Monday Marks

CLIENT: FringeArts, Philadelphia, PA CREATIVE BRIEF Create a graphic mark for FringeArts, an organization that commissions, develops, and presents the world’s most cutting-edge, high-quality performing artists. The mark should be a bold representation of a groundbreaking organization driven by a passion to explore and discover the future of art. DESIGN RESPONSE The wordmark was designed as a symbol. It represents…

Read More

Monday Marks: #6

September 1, 2014 Branding, Logos, Monday Marks

CLIENT: dcTrunk, Washington, DC BUSINESS: Invitational trunk show and sale of wearables and jewelry reMARKS: dcTrunk was developed for longtime client and friend of MGD, Steve Ford. He and principles David Forlano, Biba Schutz and Valerie Hector requested a mark for an invitational trunk show that would run simultaneously with the Smithsonian Craft Show, held each spring…

Read More

Monday Marks: #7

August 24, 2014 Branding, Logos, Monday Marks

CLIENT Wall House, Gustavia, Saint Barthélemy CREATIVE BRIEF Create a mark and graphic identity for Wall House, a seaside restaurant in Saint Barthélemy. The resident chef at Wall House serves French cuisine infused with Asian and American influences. Patrons include loyal locals as well as tourists and wine enthusiasts. The restaurant is named after…

Read More

Monday Marks: #8

August 18, 2014 Branding, Logos, Monday Marks

CLIENT Elfant Wissahickon Realtors, Philadelphia, PA BACKGROUND Coinciding with the opening of their company headquarters at 8039 Germantown Avenue, Elfant Wissahickon Realtors hired us to transform their long-time logo into a mark that would better reflect the image of the growing company. The mark needed to help redefine their status as a local, northwest…

Read More

Monday Marks: #9

CLIENT Eisenhower Fellowships, Philadelphia, PA CREATIVE BRIEF Create logos for the Eisenhower Fellowships “unConference” to be held in two cities—St. Louis and Philadelphia. Each location should have its own mark referencing the host city in some way, while appearing modern, fresh, smart and simple. UnConferences are, by their very nature, more open, innovative and participant-driven…

Read More

Monday Marks: #11

July 28, 2014 Branding, Logos, Monday Marks

CLIENT Nigro Insurance Agency, Philadelphia, PA CREATIVE BRIEF Create a visual identity for a boutique agency providing auto, business, health and homeowners insurance to customers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Nigro, an established and well-recognized family name in Philadelphia, should be the focal point. DESIGN REQUESTS “We’re looking for a logo that is professional and confident. The ‘N’…

Read More

Monday Marks: #12

We are often hired by not-for-profit organizations to create a graphic mark and coordinated materials to promote an event. Each event is unique—requiring our careful understanding of the agency’s goals and target audience. All of the graphic packages have a distinct personality thread consistently through multiple pieces, which include save the date cards, invitations,…

Read More

Monday Marks: #15

June 30, 2014 Branding, Logos, Monday Marks

It’s Monogram Monday! Monograms represent names. They can be creatively orchestrated to capture one’s unique identity, essentially serving as a shorthand signature. Here are four monogram marks pulled from the MGD archive to celebrate Monogram Monday (which is not an official holiday, in case you were wondering).   CLIENT: Jewish Communal Fund (JCF), New York, New York BUSINESS: Not-for-profit organization…

Read More

Monday Marks: #16

June 19, 2014 Branding, Logos, Monday Marks

[test][singlevideo site=”vimeo” id=”98475039″ width=”520″ height=”292″][/test]   CLIENT: The Philadelphia School (TPS), Philadelphia, PA DESIGN reMARKS: Graphic marks created for TPS are responsive to the existing visual identity, most notably defined by a logo that features bricks and a vine. The font—Myriad—is consistently used, especially in the display of the school’s name. The official school colors—red and warm gray—are always present. We…

Read More

Monday Marks: #17

June 16, 2014 Branding, Logos, Monday Marks

CLIENT Aleph Society, New York, NY CREATIVE BRIEF Global Day, a worldwide day of Jewish education, was created in 2010 to celebrate the completion of 40 years’ work by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz in translating the Talmud. This ambitious event is driven by a desire to recognize Rabbi Steinsaltz’s monumental accomplishment in translating the Talmud, and seeks…

Read More

Monday Marks: #18

June 9, 2014 Branding, Logos, Monday Marks

CLIENT Fitler Square Improvement Association, Philadelphia, PA CREATIVE BRIEF Create a visual identity for Fitler Square, a quaint urban park dating back to 1896 and beloved by neighbors as Philadelphia’s perfect square. Nestled between 23rd and 24th Streets along both Panama and Pine Streets, Fitler Square features a beautiful cast-iron Victorian fountain at its center, surrounded by…

Read More

Monday Marks: #19

June 2, 2014 Branding, Logos, Monday Marks

CLIENT Jewish Learning Venture, Melrose Park, PA CREATIVE BRIEF Create a visual identity for Jewish Learning Venture,  a community agency  passionately committed to Jewish education and engagement. The logo should be bold and dynamic—emblematic of an organization that empowers the community to connect to Jewish life. As the Jewish Learning Venture serves as a central hub for educational…

Read More

Monday Marks: #20

May 26, 2014 Branding, Logos, Monday Marks

CLIENT Valley Green Bank, Philadelphia, PA CREATIVE BRIEF Create a visual identity for a community bank in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia.  It will be led by a local team of business leaders who know and understand the residents as well as the nuances of the business community. Their personal connection, dedication to…

Read More

Monday Marks: #21

May 19, 2014 Branding, Logos, Monday Marks

CLIENT The Play Cafe, Bryn Mawr, PA CREATIVE BRIEF Create a visual identity for The Play Café, a 4,000 square foot indoor play space for children (age 5 and under) and their caregivers.  Visitors can play, relax, eat, learn, and party. We want The Play Café to be known as a safe and comfortable…

Read More

CLS Has Inequality On the Run

August 17, 2012 Branding, Event Graphics

Grab your running shoes! …unless you’re on the barefoot bandwagon. Community Legal Service’s JUSTICE FOR ALL! 5K will be here before you know it. We established the brand strategy for this event a few years ago, including the double-message logo (because justice isn’t just for some—it’s for “US ALL”). Each year we build the print collateral, helping to bring exposure to…

Read More

Conceived. Proposed. Re-branded.

February 6, 2012 Branding, Logos

The law firm of Cohen, Placitella & Roth, PC (CPR) approached us to strengthen their visual image. We began with an assessment of their print and digital collateral and concluded that the veteran law firm was replete with stunning results and compelling messages. We also saw opportunities for greater visual clarity and a clean, consistent…

Read More

Hats Off to Hands On

November 30, 2011 Branding

Jewish Relief Agency (JRA) was founded 12 years ago with one goal in mind, to bring vital food support to hungry, disadvantaged Jewish families in the community. Each year the organization plans a family-friendly fundraiser to bring exposure to their great work and raise the necessary funds to keep it going. This year, they’ll be…

Read More

Wine + Football –> Touchdown!

November 8, 2011 Branding

Wine by Design, a lifestyle marketing agency that develops signature wines to promote businesses and brands, introduced JETS UNCORKED last year in partnership with the New York Jets football team. They scored big with a 2008 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and are pleasing fans again this year with two new blends—a 2010 California Chardonnay and a 2009 Red Wine….

Read More

Around Town

August 10, 2011 Branding

Back in May we posted a concept presentation for The Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe, an event that supports local artists and brings the world’s newest and most cutting-edge cultural experiences to Philadelphia. For most of the summer, we’ve been working on a ton of collateral for the festival. We’re exciting to see the guides, bus shelters &…

Read More

Festival Fusion

May 19, 2011 Branding

MGD has the great pleasure of designing the marketing materials for the 2011 Philadelphia Live Arts and Philly Fringe Festivals. This includes the development of a festival graphic that helps define the relationship between the two festivals. Live Arts and Philly Fringe are, in fact, two different festivals. Live Arts takes the main stage and…

Read More