Mascot Logo Design Boost Brand Identity

What is Mascot Design?

A brand mascot can be a person, animal or an object, in any shape and form that reflects your brand’s emotion and feeling. It is a symbolic convention which the human brain quickly associates with visuals of heroes and characters.

Mascot acts as the role of communication and interaction with your target audience and serves as a fundamental way of delivering the brand message with users.

Examples- Amul girl, Maharajah Air India, Parle Girl, Vodaphone Zoozoo, KFA Colonel Sanders many more.

Childhood memories are best and cannot be forgotten for sure; they can be school friends, games or our favourite cartoon character. When we discuss cartoons are fantasy world characters first thing which comes in the majority of our mind is “Mickey mouse” excellent example of Mickey Mouse by Walt Disney, who gave life to cartoon characters.

Perhaps, this is the concern why you are able to relate the character of Mickey Mouse whenever somebody mentions Disney. Here the Mickey Mouse is acting as a mascot for brand Walt Disney. He’s one of history’s most lovable and hardest working mascots.

“A brand mascot can breathe life into your business. Leverage this powerful tool to expand your brand and reach new demographics”

How to Design a Mascot Logo

Now let’s discuss how to create an effective Mascot Logo design for your brand:

1.Ideation

Conceptualization is a crucial step before taking a pencil and start sketching. Understand what the character which is going to act as your brand mascot is? Depending upon your industry type, the personality and type of mascot logo design will also change.

Each business is different so as their target audience and their likings. The content, style, type, colours, character personality and overall emotion will be based on brand strategy and industry.

A lot of market research, competitive analysis, industry research and brand evaluation is required while you freeze ideation for designing a mascot brand logo design. The mascot should be niche specific Ronald McDonald is a character that friendly kids and he likes to have adventures. A colourful clown to attract more children, we think it works because it resonated well with the right audience

2.Sketching ( Do not rush )

Once the research and ideation part is done next part is putting the idea into paper. Here it is a very crucial step you have to be patient and cannot rush in this step. Go back to where your brand was born and then think about its strong brand story, which should also highlight through mascot.

It must be aligned with the principles, values, vision and mission of the company. You could even consider having a discussion with the co-founders of the company to know every trait of your business. Then several sketches are designed and brought on paper.

3.Editing and revisions 

Depending upon the sketches made various required editing and corrections are made. Modifications are initially made core internally when sketch goes to senior or art directors later after all internal modifications.

The designs are shown to the client he then reverts with specific changes which can be about their facial expressions, gestures, body language, cultural attire, postures, props and various other things. Here we are still working with a black and white pure rough sketch, so it is good time to get done all required changes as per clients and their feedback.

4.Different poses, emotional and style

Here we have to make the mascot logo alive by adding emotions, poses and actions according to clients suggestions and agency expertise.

Facial expressions– If the mascot is sad, happy, cheerful, responsive, excited and amazed.

Props– Object which is part of the story can be a bowl, plate, briefcase, stick.

Poses– List is infinite such as walking, sitting on a chair, talking on the phone.

Style– depending upon the cultural and traditional customers, the outfit, background and jewellery will be decided.

5.Make it digital and Colouring

Create a scalable vector image based on final sketching, add illustration, shadows, with colours and small changes this will now make mascot logo design look beautiful. Plan digital strategy which will help you plan where to use the character on social media and other marketing materials if you are not sure what is mascot digital strategy connect us we will be happy to guide and help you.

6.Implementation

Once the mascot brand logo design is finalized and approved by the client. Provide final file in AI, PDF or SVG vector files, as well as raster PNG and JPEG file formats. The raster files can be directly used on your website, social media or anywhere you need.

Mascots Character Logos By Industry

As we have discussed so many benefits of mascot logo design to business, I am sure many must be planning to get a mascot designed for their brand. But not all business can get the maximum benefit from there, and there are few businesses to which can be game-changing event and essential branding tool. Let’s explore some of them below:

1) FOOD MASCOT BRAND DESIGN

Using mascots in the food the industry is considered by specialists to be an effective marketing strategy. As in other industries, the fast-food sector uses mascots to build relationships with consumers on a more personal level. Using mascots in the food the industry is considered by specialists to be an effective marketing strategy. As in other industries, the fast-food sector uses mascots to build relationships with consumers on a more personal level.

Pringles :

A charming mid-aged moustachioed man as a brand cartoon spokesman of the super famous and successful chips company has a meaning. Julio Pringles chips have a head shaped like a piece of chips which, by the way, implies that all the chips pieces which are inside the unique package are equally sized. Also, the moustaches are a sign of maturity and professionalism.

KFC:

Here the mascot design resembling the founder of the company Colonel Sanders, a founder of KFC! The human face has made such a memorable and incorporated even in the company’s logo. The friendly smiling face with glasses, white hair and goatee certainly have turned out to be a super successful choice of a brand character conveying professionalism and vast chef experience.

Mc Donalds:

Ronald McDonald is a funny clown character used as the primary mascot of the McDonald’s fast-food restaurant chain. Clown inhabited a fantasy world called McDonaldland, in which he had adventures with his friends. It’s bright and vibrant colours and smiling face make it most memorable and attractive among kids.

2) SPORTS MASCOT BRAND DESIGN

Sports are most loved activity in India and hence mascot logo design for sports will never go out of fashion.

IPL:

Inspired by this legend, the logo depicts an eagle soaring high looking into the core of a rising sun, absorbing the colours of the bright star to become ‘one with the sun’. The interpretation of Colours: Red and Orange colours in the logo correspond to desire, domination, aggression, and thirst for action

ICC World Cup 2010-Stumpy:

A young, cute elephant which is symbol of Young, enthusiastic and determined players of cricket. The name was finalized through an online competition for name suggestions for the mascot, conducted by ICC in 2010

Common Wealth Games- Shera:

Shera the Tiger symbolizes positive attitude and victory. It is effectively communicated with the tagline “Come out and Play” making the victory sign.

Olympics:

The Olympic mascots logo are fictional characters, such an animal native to the area or human figures, who represent the culturally rich heritage of the place where the Olympic and Paralympic Games are taking place.

3)HEALTH MASCOT BRAND DESIGN

They have several cute characters you can see all over their website and videos. They are simple but catchy.

PNB Metlife Snoopy:

PNB MetLife is also obsessed with Chamki, Grover and Elmo — muppets who teach kids lessons in financial inclusion such as spending, saving and sharing. Brand is targeting kids as influencers and building engagement with them to involve the family.

Colgate –Tuffy Tooth:

Colgate’s Tuffy Tooth was a toothpaste mascot. Debuting in the late 1960s, print-based ads for Tuffy Tooth began with a little girl named Judy seeking help. The ferocious cavities are after her teeth! A bright white tooth wearing a red bow tie was on his way to save the day.

4) TECHNOLOGY MASCOT BRAND DESIGN

The digital marketing business is based on the creative side, so you can freely use cartoons and fun element in your content and it won’t harm your brand’s reputation. Because of the massive competition, the brand needs something visual and highly recognizable to stand out. You can surely achieve it with a mascot brand logo design.

Hutch-Hutch Pug:

Cheeka is a pug who is a mascot to promote Hutch Cellular Services. The tagline is” Wherever you go, our network will follow”.

Twitter Bird-Larry:

Twitter, for example, the small bird represents the core idea of the service, that twitter is a bird making repetitions of light tremulous sounds. The brand mascot is then a small bird (Larry) with flappy wings and a cute peak.

Android – Andy:

Friendly looking and green and colour have a robotic appearance. Its friendliness and openness represent conceived as a path towards open standards for smartphone developer and manufacturers.

Duracell Battery-Duracell bunny:

Pink Rabbit was the mascot of Duracell batteries in 1973 depicting the better quality of Duracell. Pink rabbit runs as shown in the commercial which had a Duracell battery.

5) FINANCIAL MASCOT BRAND DESIGN

Companies with financial services are considered as more “serious” and not so creative field; mascots are popular there as well. Cute, eye-catching, and sometimes he shares some pretty interesting thoughts on social media.

ICICI Prudential Bank- Chintamani:

Chintamani is a mascot of ICICI Prudential Bank which had gained immense popularity while representing the average Indian consumers. Hence it was adopted as an icon for ICICI Prudential in 2005.

Andra Bank- DOLLe:

DOLLe, a friendly, intelligent, the responsive dolphin is the bank’s mascot. The Keyhole represents

Safety and Security. The Chain indicates togetherness. The colours Blue and Red denote solidity and dynamism.

How to Use Mascot Logo in your business

1.As a Brand Logo

Making a part of logo will help the target audience to associate emotionally with mascot easily and faster. The logo is available at various stationary identities and other platforms hence this will increase the brand recall value of customers.

2.Help Promoting your product/service

The mascot logo design will no doubt add competitive advantage to your brand when you use it and make part of your packaging design. If you are into the service industry, then you can use mascot creatively on social media and website which will beautifully convey brand story also.

3.Engage your audience

People lot when they see something new and exciting hence mascot will ensure to keep the customer engaged by its creative activities and personality. A strong connection with your audience and improve your company’s public presence – the use of a mascot will be a winning strategy to make this happen.

4.Help to create a Call To Action

The call-to-action buttons are the place you want users to click in order to get started with your brand and cute and adorable mascot will make them click on the button. Mascot connects very soon compared to any text.

5.Use it on Social Media post

Social media gives you all of the tools needed to bring your mascot to life and connect with your customers. It’s the perfect medium to directly interact with your audience, as well as develop your mascot’s story. Posting photos of your mascot at community events, as well as engaging with your customers on these platforms, will increase your brand visibility. Hence this will help your brand to build trust with its current clients, as well as entice new ones.

6.Use on outdoor branding and marketing collaterals

Use your character as part of the design, from logo, poster, standee, hoarding, brochure, flyers, business card, letter-head to every part of designing and even use it as a spokesperson. We all know that people like stories, but what people like even more is when there is someone telling them the story! You can delegate more responsibilities to your mascot and let him/her speak with your audience.

Also Read : Branding and Marketing Strategies for Indian business after COVID-19

Advantage of Good Mascot Design

1.Memorable

The mascot is memorable, help your brand become more recognizable. Whether you are trying to fill a stadium, increase sales, or raise awareness, an outgoing and likeable mascot is what you need. They will not only get attention; they will engage your audience to keep your brand top of mind.

2.Mascot is ageless

No matter your business and your brand grow and ages, your mascot remains a constant, familiar feature. Research shows that mascots are more effective at engaging and driving social media than celebrities.

3.Creates positive image

Trust and loyalty is becoming more and more difficult for many organizations. A mascot is a great way to change that. Mascots are engaging and exemplify your brand’s personality. This makes it easier for your fans and customers to understand what you really represent, which helps build stronger relationships.

4.Personalization

Mascot logo design is best way for company to convey its brand meaning through brand personalization. It can communicate directly and provide visual prompts via various facial expressions, reflect the mood of the user with distinct graphic variations of the mascot, provide helpful instructions in tutorial and congratulate with achievements.

5.Emotion and interest trigger

The mascot logo is one of the a creative way to provide this feature of emotional feedback to the user, let

them speak user’s language and therefore make the product more user-centred.

6.Element of virality

Unique and stylish mascot logos can become a strong element of virality becoming so popular among users that they will not only spread it to each other but also create new versions, parodies, discussions and the like.

7.Element of consistency

Mascot applied in various elements of branding and content strategy creates the feeling of consistency which is the basis of strong brand presence and positioning on the market.

Some Successful Indian Mascots for Inspiration

 

CONCLUSION

Mascot logo designs should be used creatively and smartly because people look for justification that your product works. Make it act as a realistic person to promote your products and services.

It is essential to use your character to provide valuable information to your customers. This way, your character becomes an effective brand communicator also. Interested in getting a brand mascot designed for your brand but confused about where to start then connect branding agency DesignerPeople.

Author: Megha Malik

As a passionate entrepreneur and creative brand consultant with experience of 14 years in digital, branding and packaging industry, it is my honest effort to put my experiences and knowledge of industry towards readers. A chartered accountant by degree but a marketing personality in blood has motivated her to take in designing industry as a career. With her fun-loving personality and sharp branding skills, she is a great motivational speaker on her YouTube channel, an active member in various business channels offline as well as online. Do connect me personally via my LinkedIn and I love to share my expertise with you.