About
We are a creative agency based in Porto.
Clients
Brands we've worked with.
We treat every brand like it’s ours, which means we’re annoyingly invested
in how it turns out.
What we believe
We're called MEAN because we have opinions and we don't apologise for them.
We don't believe in brands that please everyone, because those usually mean nothing to anyone. We'd rather build something a few people fully identify with than something nobody hates but nobody remembers either.
Strategy comes in on day one, not at the end to justify the rest. We think a brand without clear direction is just pretty design looking for a purpose.
-
01
No sugarcoating.
If something isn't going to work,
we say so before you move ahead.
We'd rather bother you once than
politely deliver mediocrity. -
02
Together, not in pieces.
Identity, web, social, strategy.
Either they're born together or they're born limping. Whoever splits them is selling you half a brand. -
03
Disagree with us.
A brief is a starting point, not a bible.
You pay us to think with you, not to take dictation. -
04
No empty phrases.
“Tailor-made solutions” says nothing to anyone. We write things that only make sense coming from you. The rest is filler.
-
05
We're not for everyone.
If you're looking for someone who always agrees with you, there are plenty of agencies like that. We stick with those who want to be truly challenged.
-
06
Every brand is its own case.
We have no formula, no template, and we don't copy what worked for another client. What worked there may mean nothing here.
-
07
Strategy from the start.
It's not the last page of the document,
it's the first. If it only shows up once the visuals are done, it's already late. -
08
The name is no accident.
We chose MEAN with this in mind.
If you haven't figured out why yet, it's because you haven't worked with us yet.
What we do
Five disciplines working as one.
-
01
Branding
Name, visual identity, tone of voice.
The foundation that decides how a
brand is remembered or forgotten.- Brand guidelines
- Brand strategy
- Illustration
- Logo
- Naming
- Packaging
- Positioning
- Print materials
- Rebranding
- Signage
- Tone of voice
- Visual identity
-
02
Web
Websites that aren't just pretty. They're built to work, load and convert.
- Development
- E-commerce
- Landing pages
- Maintenance
- Optimisation and performance
- Portfolios
- SEO
- UX/UI
- Web copywriting
- Web design
-
03
Social Media
Presence with direction, not posts to pad out a calendar.
- Art direction
- Content strategy
- Editorial calendar
- Paid campaigns
- Post design
- Reporting
- Social media management
-
04
Digital & Motion
Brands that move get noticed. Animation and digital assets that take the identity to every screen.
- Digital ads and banners
- Editing and post-production
- Email and newsletters
- Logo animation
- Motion design
- Presentations
- Reels and short-form content
- UI animation
-
05
Strategy
The first page, not the last.
Direction before decoration.- Brand architecture
- Brand audit
- Campaigns
- Communication plan
- Consulting
- Positioning
- Research
Testimonials
“I’ve always believed in my ideas, but working with Mean made me realize they can go further than I ever imagined. They didn’t just offer me a service, they offered a shared vision. They knew how to listen, interpret, and turn what I had in my head into something even better than I had thought of. And along the way, they spotted problems and found solutions before I even knew I needed them.”
“We came to Mean with a name and a lot of ambition, but no clear picture of who we wanted to be. They took the time to understand what Solnovo is about and turned it into a brand that feels like travelling: bright, confident and easy to recognise anywhere. The animations gave it a life we hadn’t imagined for a travel brand. And they were always honest with us, even when that meant telling us an idea of ours wasn’t the right one.”