Be Seen

Be Seen

It’s not on a map
or in a book.
It’s right here.
Your place to do
what’s been calling you:
Go deep. Get dirty.
Get a little lost and a lot found.
Can’t hide here,
or just bide your time here,
and it’s never about
the who’s who here.
It’s about what you do
and what it says
and how you’ll make your mark
in an emerging cultural center.
So come ready.
To rule-break
and opportunity-take.
To connect and collaborate,
and chart a movement that's yours for the making.

Be Seen.

Brand Concept

Be Seen tells our unique and authentic story; because of MECA&D’s intimate size and unparalleled setting, at MECA&D you and your work will Be Seen.

Through our 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, access to state-of-the-art facilities, 24-hour-a-day studio access, and our central location in Portland’s creative community, this is the right-sized city and right-sized school to make your mark.

Be Seen Project Team

Creative Direction by Drew Design Co.
Creative Copy by The VIA Agency

MECA&D Brand Task Force

Leah Igo Brooks, Director of Marketing and Communications
Lauren Glennon, Director of Institutional Advancement and Strategic Planning
Mary Anne Lloyd '83 Assistant Professor, Program Chair, Illustration
Brittany Martin, Lead Graphic Designer
Hallie Mitchell '17, Drew Design Co.
Jessica Tomlinson, Director of Artists at Work

Original Be Seen Artwork

Michael Byers
Christian Northeast
Opal Robinson ‘23

Website Homepage Animation Team

Adam Fisher, Assistant Professor and Program Chair, Animation & Game Art
Ruthie Harrison '21
Richie Ward '21

Website Homepage Interactivity Design

VONT

Project Project

Photography by Joel Tsui '16, Salt '17, MFA '19.

Project Project is a roving series of projections, bringing MECA&D artwork to outdoor spaces every First Friday!

Kudos to alum and faculty member Steve Bowden '97 for technical savvy, alum Joel Tsui '16, Salt '17, MFA '19 for documentation, and Director of Artists at Work, Jessica Tomlinson for creative direction. View a recent segment from News Center Maine for more information on Project Project here.

Attention students! To submit artwork to be considered for inclusion in Project Project, complete this form.

Be Seen Process

Be Seen Wordmark Design

Artwork Selection

The MECA&D Be Seen Project Team initially considered 10 professional, student, and alumni artists for a custom artwork to communicate Be Seen and MECA&D’s sensibility.

Student participation throughout the entire Be Seen brand development process was essential. Students participated in focus groups, 1 student artwork ultimately made it into the final poster selection, and students participated in final artwork animation for Be Seen’s application on the website and merchandise design work.

Final Artwork Selection

Website Panel Sketch

Michael Byers’ Be Seen Poster Image was selected for treatment across the majority of MECA&D’s assets for the brand rollout, including MECA&D’s website. In order to create an image to fit the width of the website homepage, the image was extended into a three-panel illustration - allowing room to expand on Portland’s sense of place, access to nature, and inspirational coastline or mountain scenes.

Programmatic Implementation

Stay tuned for ongoing programmatic updates of Be Seen in action based on MECA&D’s position in Portland’s creative community. Art placement programs are in place - from poster placement in Portland partner windows, projections of student artwork on campus and on Portland buildings, and Public Engagement class projects throughout the state - to allow student and alumni artwork to Be Seen.

Follow #MEbeseen on Instagram to catch a glimpse of Be Seen in action.