DC Public Library’s central library building in downtown Washington DC, built in 1972,  was the first memorial in the United States to Martin Luther King Jr.  Newly renovated today thanks to the support of the Mayor and the city, this building is a place where dreams can come true for the DC community.

In 2021, the MMD branding team was hired to create assets to market a new fundraising initiative -- the DC Public Library Foundation’s Dream Makers campaign. The campaign highlights people in our community who help make dreams come true as their names are added to a new Dream Makers wall at the MLK Library.

Working with the Foundation, MMD assisted with messaging for the campaign, and created a logo and bold graphics to help promote the campaign.

The logo incorporates stars that are inspired by the DC flag, with a color palette that complements the DC Public Library's new brand identity. The circular aspect of the logo references the inclusivity represented by the campaign, an effort to ensure that any member of our community can be recognized and honored -- and that recognition results in an opening of the doors of the library even wider for more members of the community to have the opportunity to learn and grow. In addition to the logo and graphic assets created for social media and other promotional efforts, the MMD team designed and programmed a microsite which contains information about the campaign, a "virtual wall" honoring the names which will eventually be added to the physical wall, and a donation link.

By making a donation to the campaign, members of the community not only honor the person who helped make their dreams come true; their donations go directly to the DC Public Library to help them create dream programs and events at the central MLK Library and in library branches in every ward of the city.

"As a DC-based architecture and design firm that has a focus in educational institutions, this project was near and dear to our hearts," said MMD's Jan Bigas. "We are incredibly proud to support the work of the DC Public Library system, as our city's neighborhood libraries are vital to community learning, growth and civic engagement."

UPDATE:  On September 25, 2021 the Dream Makers wall with the first group of honored names was unveiled during the Grand Opening of the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library, after the library's $200 million renovation. Members of the public, library staff and DC Public Library Foundation leaders were on hand to mark the special occasion.

See the website here.