Megan Brady is no stranger to creativity. What started as a passion for art and design has now become a spirited move to revolutionize Masco’s school merchandise, something that has earned her praise from teachers and students alike.
When the senior creative director set out to create a unique piece of merchandise for WBMT’s second annual Battle of the Bands, she wasn’t just thinking about school spirit– she was envisioning something that would stand out and represent the energy of the event.
The result? A bold design featuring an eagle holding a guitar, which became the face of the event, making an appearance on around fifty screen-printed shirts, as well as posters.
Brady, a lifelong talented artist with a passion for design, spent the weeks leading up to the event working tirelessly in her garage, turning her initial idea into a work of artistic precision.
“At first, it took two days to print 27 shirts, but then in one afternoon we got around 20 done,” said Brady. “I had to relearn how to silk screen, too. I made the screen myself, burned the design onto it, and washed it out each time. It was not fun. One day it was 30 degrees out and the ink started freezing on the screen.”
In spite of the challenges, Brady was determined to print the shirts all on her own. Her inspiration came from her love of graphic t-shirts and her desire to make Masco’s merchandise stand out. She felt that the school’s typical designs, while functional, lacked the creativity and excitement that could represent the student body.
“No offense to the other Masco merch, but I think it’s lacking creativity or just not pushing the boundaries of what school merch can be. Since we don’t have a mascot or logo, I get that it’s hard to design for, but a lot of the stuff is just text-heavy or looks AI-generated. I’ve always appreciated graphic T-shirts, and I feel like Masco needs more appreciation for the arts,” Brady said.
But her creativity didn’t just come from her love of t-shirts– she explained how some of her inspiration comes from a local tattoo parlor in Beverly, where she admired flash designs and traditional artwork she felt aligned with her own style.
“All the art on the walls is in the American traditional style—similar to a lot of the artwork I do,” Brady said.
She also found that a lot of her creative ideas come from small moments of inspiration, like simply observing the world around her. It is in these seemingly random or insignificant moments that often spark the most intricate concepts in her work.
“I’ll take walks and get inspired by everything around me. So I think that was already in my head when I started coming up with a design. Then one night, I was like, ‘What if I did an eagle?’ And how could I make this music-related? So I added a guitar and headphones.”
The final product didn’t come without trial and error; whether it was switching up the idea entirely from a graphic skull, reconstructing the design, or adjusting the placement, Brady persevered, continuously adding elements until she got it just right.
“It was a challenge figuring out how to organize the WBMT logo with the eagle and make it look balanced. I used trace paper and markers, and had to shift around the text and redraw everything,” said Brady.
Like any creative journey, seeing her art come to life in the form of rapidly selling merchandise that people genuinely wanted to wear was a particularly meaningful milestone for Brady. It was in these moments that she discovered her work had a real impact on the community.
“I think for the first time, it made me realize that people actually wanted to buy my artwork. It made me think, ‘Oh, I could start my own print shop.’ I might even make an Etsy. But it was just super cool seeing my art out there and seeing how much the community appreciates artwork.”
She was especially surprised when her design was shared throughout Masco’s staff, igniting a chain reaction that sparked excitement and awe among teachers. One teacher even said it “might be the best piece of design, ever, in the history of Masconomet.”
Brady said, “There was a very lengthy email chain between all the teachers that were like, ‘We need bumper stickers,’ and I would say that really made me realize, this is gonna be big—people want these shirts. It was cool being stopped in the hallway by the teachers saying, ‘That’s a sick design.’ Dr. Fay also stopped me at Battle of the Bands and was like, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing.’”
Brady had a lot of artistic breakthroughs this year, including her initial run of screen printing for NAHS, which prompted her to take on the challenge of the Battle of the Bands shirts.
“I would say this was my first big mass production, but with my other club, National Art Honor Society, I did my first run of screen printing, and that inspired me to do this again for WBMT,” she said.
Looking ahead, Brady plans to continue exploring her creative potential at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), and further pursue her passions for design and bringing her vivid ideas to life in unexpected ways.
“I think I will continue in some design field, either in furniture or industrial design, and I’m going to try to keep printmaking and silk screening in my life.”
Printmaking serves as a way for Brady to use her creativity to make something tangible, and she said that the hands-on nature of the craft adds a special touch to her work. The process involves burning the design onto a screen, applying ink, and methodically pressing it onto the material, each step requiring precision and careful attention to detail.
“I hope people realize that screen printing is kind of a dying art form. I want it to show how much art can impact your life, and that it’s worth continuing, and that screen printing is pretty cool.”
Beyond the technical skills she’s developed, Brady felt reassured to know that her artwork could impact people’s lives in ways she hadn’t anticipated.
“I learned a lot about time management—starting earlier, investing in better materials, but also reminding myself that people actually want my designs. People actually want handmade art.”
Brady encourages others never to underestimate the significance of teamwork and accepting the support of others. She found that the process of creation becomes even more rewarding when it’s shared, not just for the help, but for the encouragement and inspiration that drives her creative process and pushes her to keep growing.
“Use your friends. Use other people. They’re there for you. They’ve got your back. It helps a lot—and I think it brings you closer along the way. Art is better with other people. It’s meant to be shared,” said Brady.
For someone like Megan, the creative process isn’t just about making art; it’s about using the art to connect with others and leave a lasting impression. As she moves forward in her journey, she remains determined to make her art not only a personal expression, but something that continues to bring people together.