Effective Mascot Design Plays an Important Role on Advertising
There are many factors that go into designing an ideal mascot. The first aspect of any mascot is personality. Having a unique personality, a mascot provides your company with another way to separate itself from its competitors. The mascot's style and personality ought to be an expression of your company's own, and really should talk to the audience that you are trying to attract.
Across the same lines, a mascot ought to be an agent from the company's overall values and goals. These values should be reflected in the manner the character looks and carries itself. Furthermore, when the character is more than simply a part of your logo and has a 'speaking role' in your advertising, then your characters voice and actions should reflect the business's strong points.
Designing a mascot can provide a company some real creative flexibility. You'll need a mascot that is unique enough that it's going to jump out at people and make them remember. Probably the most successful mascots have been ones that virtually defy description and therefore are a little outlandish. You do not necessarily have to go that route, but a normal talking animal usually isn't going to interest people greatly.
When making a mascot, it is best to set it up as though it will participate your company, as well as your advertising, forever. You'll need a design that's timeless and has room to develop alongside your company. Don't be afraid to alter and 'upgrade' your mascot to keep up with the days ' so long as the mascot ultimately stays in keeping with what it originally represented.
With all of having said that, you need to think globally for your mascot design. We reside in a very politically correct world, and many mascots have basically been forced into retirement because some element of their design was deemed offensive. For the most part it's not too hard to avoid causing offense with your mascot, but just just in case, it always takes care of to do a little extra research.
Also, again, keep in mind that not every company really requires a mascot. If your company is about hard-lined professionalism, then a mascot will just seem at odds with what you're attempting to do. For the rest of the company available, however, mascots are wonderful ways to really have a brand one stage further and also have it be a real cultural landmark.