Mascot design in popular culture
Mascots can represent a number of things, from sports teams, political parties to advertising a product and even in military service. This is usually a character or animal that is an identifiable symbolic representation for something. Mascot design is very important to the organization the character will go on to represent.
Mascots are somewhat of a superstitions notion with sports teams as the general stigma associated with them is that a mascot may bring luck to a sports team. Mascots work to hype up the crowd and act as a leader or representing figure for a team.
When creating an icon to match with a product, team or service a great deal of thought must be put into the design itself of the product. With some official and very real mascots such as the elephant for the republican party of the USA first used in 1874 which came to be used from a political cartoon published from the time. This was one of the first political mascots and the image has shown many different forms to represent the party from then on.
With sports we can look to the evolution of the Olympic mascots. These mascots generally take shape to represent both the sporting events and the host country for each Olympics. Since the 1972 games in Munich Germany there has been a great number of designs and changes to the complexity and style of Olympic mascots. From the patriotic Sam the eagle, mascot of the 1984 games in the United States who was decked out in a star spangled top hat and red white and blue, to the 5 collectible mascot “good luck” dolls made for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. These new mascot designs have become more complex and marketable for sale. The idea of selling plush toys increases the exposure for both the games and the host country.
University and college mascots for teams have also gone through various evolutions since the inception of their first designs. An example of this is Iowa state’s mascot which began as a simple cardinal and today has many graphics added to it including a whirlwind effect and a less cartoon-like bird to represent the team. It is a much more modern take on the classic and this is the case with many established mascots.
Some sports teams have also come under some controversy because of their chosen mascots. For example the Washington redskins mascot was quite established and came under fire for being possibly offensive, as a result the team had to change the image of their team only slightly to detract from any racially bias connotations the imagery may have had. Mascots sometimes need to update in order to be appropriate and topical to still reach a wide audience and put a positive image forward for what they are representing.
In conclusion, with much of the new technological advancements and other media outlets such as the web, it is easier to get a mascot or icon out into the world and gain some real exposure. With the graphic design software that is available now as well we are seeing a number of old mascots being updated and changed for a more modern look. Even with an established look a mascot can change their image once and a while to keep up with the times. This modernizing results in mascot designs that update the entire look in a fashion that is relevant to the times and the intended audience. Mascots will continue to be a part of our society and serve a vital role by putting a face to our products, teams and organizations. We will continue to see new mascots, and see the old ones continue change and evolve for many years to come.
London 2012 Mascot Designs
Have you seen the mascot designs for the London 2012 games? Turns out the design team in London is going for a very progressive look. The 2012 Olympic mascots depart from safe territory and take a big risk with their complexity and futuristic feel. Apparently one of the main motivators for the look and feel of these mascots was the design to engage with a younger audience.
Official 2012 mascot design team
Behind every design decision in the world are people who make those choices. Some of them have actual reasons, some of them are just made up after the fact. We’re not sure what the case was with the mascot design team at London 2012 but this is what they had to say:
“During our bid to host the 2012 Games, London promised to connect young people with the power of the Games and in doing so inspire them to choose sport. On our journey to London 2012 we believe that our mascots will be one of the most powerful ways for us to connect with young people and deliver this vision.”
London 2012 Olympic mascot designs
If that was the goal then I would say job well done. These two mascots embody quicksilver brought to life with their metallic skins and trim.
They almost feel like a hot new gadget like a cell phone or iPod.
What’s behind these mascots?
In true Olympic fashion when you have millions at your disposal to get jobs done, a back story was created to give relevance and reason to the existence of these two metallic buddies.
Check out the video of their grand tale here and tell us what you think in the comments.
Do you like Wenlock and Mandeville? What would you have done differently?
The Story of Mascot Design
Come join me and discover an incredible story about mascot design. It’s a story that starts way back with our cave dwelling ancestors at the dawn of mankind.
That might surprise some people because many think mascots are a modern cultural event but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact our ancestors used primitive mascots as far back as prehistoric man living in caves and if you fast forward to the high energy performers of our present day and you’ll soon see that mascots have played a role in human culture the world over for thousands of years. In many ways, the story of mascots is an interesting look at what it is to be human, ready to check it out? Let’s go!
The History of Mascots
The definition of a mascot includes “A person or thing that is supposed to bring good luck …” Now luck of course, is success or failure brought about by chance and naturally, humans worldwide used a variety of means, including embodying persons or things that would attempt to bring them good luck. That being the case, then the earliest mascots have been in use to conjure all kinds of good luck as far back as our prehistoric cavemen ancestors. These cultures would embody (or “mascot-ize”) animals and spirits of many kinds for many different reasons. Common uses include bestowing good luck on big hunts and harvests or to encourage fertility among the tribe.
Early mascots were used in hunting and fertility ceremonies.
These early mascot designs were masked creatures that could be embodied with a mask and a costume and danced around during ceremonies and tribal events. As far as we know, these designs ranged from simple constructions through to very elaborate costumes adorned with the most extravagant embellishments available at the time. Other times, the images of these mascots would be etched or drawn on rocks, cave walls or carved into wooden totem poles which were then erected as a sign of respect and again, so they would bestow their power and good fortune on the tribe. You could say that even our prehistoric ancestors from tens of thousands of years ago understood that mascots had power to affect and influence, to rally tribal spirits and boost morale all in the aim of soliciting more luck, blessings and fortune.
Mascot Evolution
Tracing back through modern history, the word mascot has been traced to Provence and Gascony. There it was used to describe any thing that brought luck to a household. Like so many words in the English language, the word mascot has it’s roots in France.
Edmond Audran, writer of La Mascotte
In 1880 the word was popularized when a French composer by the name of Edmond Auduran wrote La Mascotte, a popular operetta at the time. The word “Mascotte” had been in use in France long before as a slang term amongst gamblers; a sub-culture obsessed with the concept of luck. His La Mascotte operetta was hugely successful and translated into English as, you guessed it; The Mascot. This introduced the word into the English language for any animal, person or object connected to bringing good luck.
From what we can tell, we start to see the physical beginnings of mascots as we know them today also in the 1800s. Apparently these old time mascots were actual live animals associated with the teams they represented. For example, if a team of athletes proudly wore a bear patch on their uniform then chances are there was an actual bear in tow somewhere not too far away. The cost of maintaining live animals ultimately brought the keeping of live mascots to an end and gave birth to what we now know as mascot costumes. Still, it wouldn’t be until the 1970s that mascots would turn pro er … amateur … er … both!
The Olympics Catches on. First Mascot in 1972.
You could say the IOC (International Olympic Committee) was somewhat slow to catch on to the benefits and power of mascots. The organization as we know it was officially founded in 1894 yet it wasn’t until 1972 at the Munich games that the first Olympic mascot appeared in the form of Waldi; a multi-colored dachshund. Although not the biggest, strongest or fastest dog breed, the dachshund was chosen due to his qualities of agility, tenacity, resistance and the fact that they embodies some of the distinctive history and culture unique to the host city Munich.
List of Olympic Mascots
| 1972 Munich Olympic Games | Dog mascot | Waldi |
| 1976 Montreal Olympic Games | Beaver mascot | Amik |
| 1980 Moscow Olympic Games | Bear mascot | Misha |
| 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games | Eagle mascot | Sam |
| 1988 Seoul Olympic Games | Tiger mascot | Hodori |
| 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games | Cobi | |
| 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games | Lizzy | |
| 2000 Sydney Olympic Games | Kooabura, Platypus, Echidna | Olly, Syd & Millie |
| 2004 Athens Olympic Games | Athena & Phevos | |
| 2008 Beijing Olympic Games | Beibei, Jing Jing, Huanhaun, Yingying, Nini |
You can see Waldi and all the Olympic mascots in this great little video. It actually shows all the Olympic Mascots from 1972.
Modern mascot design 101
Today mascots are designed to embody traits most desired by the organizations who create them. Although not a hard and fast rule, sports team mascots are typically created to reflect strength, speed and a competitive spirit. In sports we see mascot design that reflects these traits such as warriors or predatory animals such as eagles, large cats, bears and sharks.
Mascots are often designed from predatory animals
Again, this is not an absolute rule and many sports teams opt for cheeky, cute and fun mascots rather than characters exhibiting purely athletic qualities. For non-profit and corporate mascot designs we tend to see more approachable characters such as smaller (cute) animals, clowns and characters that completely made up to look as friendly as possible.
Inside the costume: mascot performers
Professional mascot performers are actors who take on the spirit of the mascot. It’s their job to give the mascot personality through movement that is relevant to the character they are playing. For example, a mascot in a theme park needs to move in an inviting and friendly manner that is appealing to kids and families.
A performer can make or break a mascot.
Compare that to a mascot for a football team that is more likely to move in a faster and more aggressive manner and provide entertainment and antics. It can’t be understated that in sports, a mascot performer can be crucial in getting the crowd into the game. This is especially true if the mascots team is losing and the energy of the fans is low. A great mascot coupled with a great performer can get the crowd back on its feet and the team back into the game.
Controversy for some older mascots
In the USA, there has been controversy over the choice of mascots that are based on Native American societies. Some argue passionately it constitutes the exploitation of an oppressed culture and in order to take changing times into account, teams have gone as far as to rename their teams and mascots. Back in 2005 the NCAA asked all teams to “self-evaluate and examine their teams for potentially offensive mascot choice”.
Are some mascots controversial?
The University of Iowa went so far as to refuse games with schools using Native American mascots. A great case in point on the effect this had is Southeastern Oklahoma State University who changed their mascot from a Native American called “the Savage” to a superhero called “the Savage Storm”. What to you think? Are mascots using native American symbols, names and terms derogatory or are they respectful because they embody strength, speed and competitiveness?
Modern mascot design methods
Creating mascots always starts with the audience in mind. A mascot designed for a target audience of kids need vastly different characteristics then a mascot for a football team. Luckily, identifying the audience is a no-brainer for any organization so the real challenge lies in creating a mascot that will fit perfectly with what their audience wants and expects. Typically ideas are brainstormed regarding creative considerations such as the species, attitude, size and shape of the mascot.
That’s fine for just a cartoon mascot , however if the mascot is to subsequently be turned into a wearable costume then technical factors need to be taken into account. These include: what kinds of climate will the costume will be worn in? Will the mascot be active or more of a mellow meet-and-greet type? Will the costume be for indoor or outdoor use etc? These are all important factors because nobody wants some performer trying to do cartwheels in a hot shaggy costume on a sunny summer day in … Phoenix! Taking all these broad ideas and considerations into account, the brainstorming for specifics can be evaluated.
Mascot concepts sketched out and fine tuned to final mascot.
Organizations tend to enter the design process with (at the very least) their own rough ideas on what they need for a mascot. These ideas are communicated to a mascot design company who employ professional artists to turn those ideas into concept sketches. These cartoon-like sketches establish a foundation for discussion about what the character should and shouldn’t look like. Nothing beats these visuals because they quickly and cost effectively allow elements of a design to be kept or eliminated.
The sketch phase is typically where a lot of exploring is conducted because making changes on paper with pencil is a much cheaper than editing a completed cartoon character or custom mascot costume.
Examples of modern cartoon mascots (provided by FastCharacters.com)
Once the sketches are approved the artists will then transform the pencil artwork into fully rendered vector art. That sounds geeky but what this essentially means is that the analog pencil drawing is scanned and digitized, turned into curves called “vectors” and then beautifully colored in. The result is a cartoon mascot character much like you see representing sports teams, cereals and fast food joints everywhere. During this stage of the design process, the client can safely experiment with different colors, textures and shading options to get the exact look and feel they want.
Mascot logo designs
Depending on the where and how the mascot will be deployed, the next step might be to incorporate the newly created character into a mascot logo design. This is especially common for sports teams who want to fuse their mascot with a logotype treatment in order to come up with a cartoon logo to use for the branding of their team.
Example of a mascot logo design where the cartoon mascot and some typography are used together.
Put another way, this is a hybrid of a cartoon mascot with a customized typeface wrapped up in one tight package. A lot of time and effort goes into these kinds of logos to make them look as good as they do. Unlike a typical logo design project, the creation of a mascot logo involves both the development of a logo and a cartoon character and then integrating the two in a visually powerful manner.
Mascot costume manufacturing
The next and final step in a custom mascot design is having a physical costume created. As previously mentioned, there are some very important considerations when it comes to manufacturing mascot costumes. In order to choose the appropriate fabrics and materials, the first thing the designers need to know is what kind of climate the character costumes will be used in. Hot and cold climates both place the performer under different stresses and the costume take this into account.
Different fabrics considered for mascot costumes
Secondly, the designers will need to know the height of the performer(s) intended for the costume as this will dictate the scale and size of the costume. Another important concern is whether the suit will have an active performer inside. Costumes which are intended for acrobatics are constructed using different materials and construction techniques then light duty meet-and-greet style characters. For active mascot costumes, the materials need to be more flexible, durable and put together using industrial strength threads and stitches. A professional mascot costume manufacturer will pay attention to these details and ensure the costume is not only comfortable for the performer, appealing to the audience but also durable enough to handle the rigors of constant activity.
Famous mascots
Many mascots have the proud distinction of having earned a special place in our hearts and minds. They take up space in our memories whether we like it or not! Some of the most famous food and beverage mascots include burger clown Ronald McDonald, Coca-Cola’s nameless polar bear and cereal purveyors Snap, Crackle and Pop. Seriously, the sheer amount of corporate mascots that have invaded your brain space is astounding if you stop to think about it. Here’s just a handful we can name that you will know for sure:
- Tony the Tiger
- Geico Gecko
- The Burger King
- Toucan Sam
- Grimace
- Hamburglar
- the Quaker Oats guy
- Capt’n’ Crunch
- Jolly Green Giant.
Later than most people think, it wasn’t until the 70s that professional sports teams started adopting mascots. Let’s take a look at some of the most famous in their respective sports.
The Famous Chicken
In 1974 the San Diego Padres adopted a mascot for their team they simply dubbed the “San Diego Chicken” and also known as “The Famous Chicken”. This mascot was lively, energetic and tons of fun. Sporting News selected the big yellow bird as on of the Top 100 Most Powerful People in Sports For The 20th Century” which puts this mascot in the same company as Babe Ruth, Muhammed Ali, Jesse Owens and Wayne Gretzky. And the Famous Chicken will always hold the title of being the first ever professional sports mascot in US history.
Famous mascots: "The San Diego Chicken" AKA "The Famous Chicken"
Harvey the Hound
Not too far behind was Harvey the Hound, the first mascot to appear in the NHL. This mascot is a white furry dog with a floppy red tongue has been getting the crowd going since 1983. Over the years Harvey has had many a memorable moment but none more so than having his tongue yanked out of his mouth by an irate Edmonton Oiler coach. Ouch!
Harvey the Hound Mascot
Phillie Phanatic
Another icon amongst professional sports teams icons is the big green “Phillie Phanatic” named aptly after the legions of fanatical Philadelphia Phillies followers. Designed by a studio recommended by famous muppeteer Jim Henson who created a mascot costume design called the Phillie Phanatic. Green, furry and cheeky, the Phanatic is only one of three mascots in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Phillie Phanatic
Naturally there are LOTS of professional sports mascots that have made their presence felt in professional stadiums but we can’t explore or give a nod to them all! I mean, there’s only so much room on a web page you know?
Wrappin’ it all up
All in all, it’s fair to say that the presence and impact of mascots on human culture is understated and taken for granted. From the dawn of man we have embodied our ourselves, our gods, angels, demons, enemies and adversaries in many different mascot forms. Mascots have been with us from the very beginning and it’s the position of this writer that they will be with us until for a long time to come.
If you think I missed anything, made a mistake or anything … lets hear it in the comments.
Why I’m crazy about mascots and costumes of all kinds
I really couldn’t say when it all started. At some point in my life I just caught a bug for mascots and anything to do with mascot design. So what ends up happening? Well for starters this blog along with me learning as much as I can about the history of mascots and how they fit into our world.
Shaman's used all kinds of animals, gods and spirits as mascots.
Some people collect coins, others are crazy about baseball cards or video games or NFL or the UFC. Me, I’m into mascots. The more I learned about them the more I was intrigued. I mean even cavemen were into mascots! Cavemen you ask? CAVEMEN! Thousands of years ago our native ancestors would create costumes and wear them around for all kinds of reasons. These early costumes are rarely called mascot costumes but really … aren’t they?
Think about this.
Imagine you belong to some tribe and your then religious guy, typically called a shaman puts a tiger skin around his back and shoulders. Then he puts on a tiger mask. Next up drums start playing and this tiger … er shaman … starts dancing and growling around the fire. He puts on a great show of jumps, jabs and swipes. And the end result what? Warriors of the tribeall pumped up and ready to kick ass is what.
I don’t care by what other name that might go by; that’s a mascot if you ask me.
Tribal warrior
Now the Shaman could have been wearing any kind of costume from an animal, a spirit, a deity or a god. It doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, ceremonies using primitive character costumes of all kinds was very common amongst our early ancestors and for a whole range of reasons. Everything from buffing up warriors and hunters, to increasing fertility in women and crops.
So that’s just one thing that got me interested in mascot design. There’s a lot more cool stuff about mascots and I’ll be writing more about it so check back from time to time or let me know your thoughts in the comments.
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