Top tips in mascot design

Make sure the mascot is comfortable to wear and transport

Factors to consider:•Weight•Size•Type of material •Heat:Is it hot to wear? Can you insert air pockets?Does it need an inbuilt fan?

Make sure the costume allows full leg and arm movement

Notice in this costume the “shell” ends at the top of legs and arms for full arm leg movement

The role of the mascot is to inspire people

Therefore it has to be:•Beautiful, Friendly, Happy, fun, human like…Whilst you want the mascot to represent the flagship species (so color and key features should be retained) you need to give it some human like features so people can better relate to it. These include:

•Big eyes•Big smile•Arms and legs•A name

This is especially important if your flagship species is not already a very “cute” creature and there is a risk that people might find it “ugly” or “scary”

The Bahamas lobster mascot is a great example of how a mascot can be given some human like features so that it is not “scary” or “ugly”. Can you list the adapted features?

Big eyes

Big “puppet like” mouth

Bow tie

Cute antennae on the head look a bit like hair

Antennae bent backwards so that they are less prominent and scary

Human like arms and hands

Legs

Lobster shell has been made beautiful in color and shape and looks a bit like a coat

Mascot has big feet like a human

Can you list the human like features?

But how can I add human features to flagship species who have no visible eyes and legs? Simple, you can add them without distorting the image of your flagship.

The Chocolate clam mascot of Loreto campaign added human features

Arms to

hug viewers

Legs, for mobility

Big round, happy eyes

Smiling mouth, with tongue to be more expressive

Mural in a sports arena of the Chocolate Mascot playing soccer/football and baseball.

The Indochinese tiger is a very charismatic flagship species but it can also be a bit scary

What design features did campaign manager Tao add to the mascot to make it likeable and less scary than the real tiger?

Big blue eyes, round in shape like a human, not cat like!

Round shaped ears, more like a teddy bear than a cat

Big paws for the “feet”

Cute hair curl on top of head

Heart shaped nose! Reminds one a bit of the cuddly “love bear” toys

Smily mouth with small “cute” teeth

Boy-scout collar hankerchief

The mascot is a tiger pup! By making it “young and cute” the scary tiger effect is completely gone!

A small detail of the mascot: the campaign logo is printed on the boy-scout scarf

Some more pictures of mascots for you to study and critique…

St. Lucia Iguana (Iguana iguana)