Originally founded as the New Gallery in 1968 and then renamed the Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art in 1984, the museum was looking for a new, edgy brand that would more effectively convey its mission — to encourage audiences to actively engage with contemporary art in all its forms. Nesnadny + Schwartz worked closely with the museum to strategically introduce its new name — MOCA Cleveland — and visual identity.
The new identity system we designed for MOCA used minimal letterforms paired with bold color treatments in broad stripes and linear graphics. This energetic direction gave MOCA the confident and memorable visual statement it was looking for to differentiate itself from past incarnations. We also art directed all brand launch materials, created all internal and external signage, and designed all event, membership, and exhibition-related communications tools.