Creating a mascot means visually conveying a company’s values through a unique and strongly identifying image
Creating a mascot is not an easy job. The first challenge is to correctly interpret the tastes of the client and the audience to whom the mascot will refer; the second is to make sure that the team, once the character is created, recognizes itself in the chosen traits and colors.
Not only that, deciding to communicate with a mascot means building a credible story. This is how the company decides to excite and interest the public, far beyond just strategy. Everything is built to overwhelmingly increase brand recognition.
How then, to find a character that completely represents the company? That’s where we come in!
When it comes to difficult challenges, Larry always responds with courage and fearlessness!
In fact, today, we are going to look at Larry, our very mascot, to tell you in detail how we went from an idea (at times, we admit, vague) to creating an entire character (with attached character and setting) that to date represents us and of which we are extremely proud.
What are the key ingredients for making a mascot absolutely in line with the company’s characteristics?
The ingredients for creating an effective mascot
Think back to your favorite cartoon character. Do you remember perfectly his “face,” his colors and the “move” that distinguishes him? We believe that every detail of it is well etched in your mind.
We’re not going to go into why that very character has remained in your heart but now let’s go into every aspect that gave birth to Larry.
The Line – The purest means of expression
The first sign of a character’s existence is the line.
The line is the purest medium of expression. It is what, in all its aspects, can most characterize the characters.
Apart from contour lines that already have their own meanings based on their thickness we are talking about lines that trace the shape of our character’s silhouette .
Soft, rounded and curved lines, for example, make it possible to generate graceful characters. Straight lines, on the other hand, with sharp angles generate firmer, more firm figures.
This does not necessarily mean that a character with soft lines must always play a positive role. Nor that an edgy character must necessarily be negative.
Character characteristics are brought to life by a set of choices: for example, it may happen that the soft line can be used to make a lanky, curvy character or a lazy or “slouchy” character.
A firm, angular line, on the other hand, can be used to define a decisive personality, a strong character, a Hero.
The lines that define the contours, however, are not always enough to give recognition and thus to establish well what kind of personality we are dealing with. This is where volumes come in, an element we will discuss shortly.
Let’s talk about Larry.
As we said, the lines qualify the style of the character. The character of the character is expressed here. In Larry, the angular and slender lines suggest a definite characteristic, proud and assertive.
In addition, static characters like Larry, who maintain their characteristics, express confidence and boldness: they do not change their goals or their interests.
Another indispensable element: poses. In what ways can a character be “posed”?
Le Pose – What is the character of the character?
In addition to bringing the characters to life, the poses always express an aspect of their personality.
Some poses, with body language, manifest the character of the character.
In this case Larry has a strict posture that expresses pride.
Larry is a confident, stable character who does not let negative events affect him.
The Profile – Make the character recognizable
The profile is an aspect that returns a strong and essential vision, great for identifying the recognizability of a character.
In Larry, the profile was chosen both to be able to accentuate the smile and to highlight the continuous line between the head and neck.
Everything was designed to give more pride to the mascot’s posture.
But when we talk about personalizing what are we referring to? Definitely to the addition of unique details.
The Details – It conveys a specific message
When drawing a detail or detail, one must first ask, “What message do we want to convey?”
A priority is placed at the center, namely, to focus attention on a specific distinctive element.
For Larry we thought of a scarf.
In this case the scarf, becomes the strongly recognizable element, conveys the perception of being in front of a dynamic and less set character.
The scarf, since it is an element that draws on fashion, becomes a stylish detail.
Thus, we continue to delineate the character step by step: Larry is edgy and precise but embraces fashion and makes it personal.
The Colors
Colors are another key aspect that is taken care of in great detail.
We used a shade of blue because it is a color that conveys the idea of an elegant figure and expresses a strong personality.
Volumes
Volumetric lines: all those inner lines with respect to contours, can help us determine, for example, the width of clothes, pleats, and any other aspect that may be significant in the making of the figure.
Through these lines, the drawing gains corporeity and concreteness.
The choice in Larry, of not having the volumetric lines, that is, the three-dimensionality of the figure, appear, gives the character a lighter appearance. It thus becomes more graphic and more pleasing.
In other words, Larry is a character who does not possess thickness and shadows: he is freed from physical reality, making space for himself in the virtual reality of the Web.
Each of these elements should certainly be investigated further. We wanted to give you, however, a glimpse into the study and in-depth research behind such a work.
Every single project we carry out consists of commitment, passion and dedication.
If you want to know how to create your own mascot or if you are simply curious to learn more about some aspect, contact us now.
We feel like expressing ourselves on everything that makes us passionate professionals!
