Mascot Design
Brand mascots and characters for companies and campaigns, designed to work in print, on screen and in animation, for Friend Studio, Merck and theAcademy.
Start a ProjectExample mascot
Plato, the mascot we designed for Friend Studio, in his announcement animation. From Plato
A character people remember
A good mascot gives a brand a face and a personality people warm to. It has to be simple enough to recognise at a glance, expressive enough to carry a story and practical enough for other people to use long after the design is finished.
For Friend Studio we designed Plato, a dog built from two simple shapes that never morph, so Friend's own team could take him on and animate him however they needed. Getting there meant exploring a wide range of alternative designs and structure sheets, and we show some of the ones that never made it.
For Merck we created a large illustrated mosquito for a dengue fever awareness film, and a cast of expressive tooth characters for a staff quiz in just four days. For theAcademy we built a small cast of coloured cube characters to carry an explainer film.
We think about where the character will live from the start. A mascot may need to work as a tiny icon, on packaging, in a presentation and in a film, so we test the design at different sizes before it is finished.
Review rounds are built into every stage, from the first sketches to the final poses, so you shape the character with us rather than being shown a finished design and asked to accept it.
Mascots and characters we have designed
From a two shape dog to a mosquito and a family of teeth, each designed for how it will be used.
What you get
We agree the scope with you at the start. These are the things most of our mascot projects include.
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Exploration
A range of first ideas and styles, so you can see the options before choosing a direction.
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The final design
A finished character with a clear silhouette and a personality to match your brand.
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Expressions and poses
Expression sheets and key poses so the character can react, point and celebrate.
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Structure sheets
Construction guides that show how the character is built, so anyone can draw it on model.
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Ready to animate
A design that moves well, with animation available from us whenever you need it.
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Artwork for every use
Files for print, web, packaging and social media.
How it works
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Brief.
We learn about your brand, your audience and where the mascot will appear.
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Explore.
We sketch a range of directions for you to react to.
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Refine.
The chosen direction is developed, with review rounds until it feels right.
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Expressions and poses.
We draw the character in the moods and actions it will need.
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Hand over.
Final artwork and guides are delivered, ready for your team or ours to use.
Questions buyers ask
What makes a good brand mascot?
A clear silhouette, a simple construction and a personality that fits the brand. Plato is built from just two shapes, which makes him instantly recognisable and easy to animate.
How many designs will we see?
We start with a range of options in different directions. For Plato we explored many alternative designs before the final two shape character was agreed.
Can the mascot be animated?
Yes. We design with movement in mind, and we can animate the character for films, social media and presentations.
Can our own team use the mascot?
Yes. We supply the artwork and guides your designers need. Plato was designed so Friend Studio's own team could animate him after handover.
How long does it take to design a mascot?
It depends on how many directions you want to explore and how many poses you need. We agree a schedule at the start, with dates for the first sketches, each review round and the final artwork.
Who owns the mascot?
Ownership of the final design is agreed in writing before work begins, so you know exactly how your brand can use the character.
Need a face for your brand
Tell us about your brand, your audience and where the character will appear. We will start with some ideas.
Start a Project