Competition for visual identity and mascot design – Ponikve Krk
Category
vizualni identitetAbout This Project
Mascot design
Beginning of 2016. we have joined our forces to create a mascot design as a part of visual identity competition for Ponikve eko otok Krk, a company which promotes island Krk as an environmentally friendly place. Their main goal is to become a fully sustainable island with 0% of CO2 emission.
CONDITIONS:
“Mascot needs to own main values that client represents, which includes eco friendly attitude and sustainable way of living and working on island Krk.”
“Mascot can be humanlike or designed as a stylised version of an animal.”
“Mascot will be made in real size and used in various promotion activities and programmes. Mascot needs to be easy to manipulate, movable and adjustable.”
“It needs to be original, recognisable, have personality, be friendly, cheerful and interesting to all visitors so it can be used in diverse promotion activities.”
“Mascot will be used in diverse promotional and marketing activities such as flyers, badges, t-shirts, caps, bags, flags and similar.”
“It is advisable to use few colours to create authentic solutions for visual identity of a mascot, which could include colours of the client (blue and green).”
PROCESS:
All team members of our group contributed to this project with specific knowledge, skills and experience, to create a mascot with a name that would represent our client in the best light. We wanted to create a mascot that would produce positive effect in all age groups and inspire them to think “eco”.
First step was detailed market research that helped us create an original mascot that stands out from other creative solutions. We wanted a mascot to completely fulfil main condition of a competition – a friendly mascot that represents eco island Krk and share awareness about environmentally friendly way of thinking.
Our creative graphic designers used their knowledge and benefits of “designer mind” which included creating sketches and drawing many characters to be able to choose the best creative solution.
On many of our meetings we have discussed all potential solutions and with a lot of brainstorming and debating, we have concluded many interesting ideas. In the end we have decided unanimously that a cute seahorse mascot should represent eco island Krk.
MASCOT DESIGN
Why a seahorse?
Seahorse is an inhabitant of Adriatic sea and it is protected species. Island Krk is also situated in the Adriatic sea. His appearance is unusual and interesting, just as a character from a fairy tale, and because of that people, both adults and children, find him friendly and positive. His eyes are also big and blue which makes him cute and approachable.
Naturally, seahorse is a friendly animal and often he lives in a group. He has a special ability to change his color depending where he lives. Therefore, he can be blue, yellow, green, orange or multicoloured. A seahorse as a motive of a mascot is very rare which provides a high level of originality.
Mascot of a seahorse can show various facial expressions and body language which makes him appropriate to applicate on recycling trash bins, bags, caps and badges, t-shirts, flyers, wallpapers and other.
CHOOSING A NAME
The process of finding the most appropriate name was quite long because we wanted to find the best name to represent a synergy of island Krk and ecology. Our content masters were working on a concept of creating a name for the mascot and after a lot of potential solutions we have chosen the name KEKO.
Why Keko?
Male name Keko comes from the name of the island “Krk” and “eco”. In just one word it perfectly represents endeavor to care for the environment, eco friendly way of living, that is the main goal of island Krk.
Name sounds friendly, positive, easily rememberable, audible, playful, easy to read and pronounce, and it is understandable both to croatian and foreign tourists.
Along with the name, we have created slogans so that the main message could reach people:
“Keko uvijek razmišlja eko” ( “Keko always thinks eco”)
“Budi dobar kao Keko, ponašaj se eko” (Be good as Keko, act eco”)
Although our creative solution wasn’t victorious, we are more then happy with the whole result. Every new project is a challenge that we truly enjoy, learn and grow. In the end, even though every team member has its own tasks within a project, we all make decisions together and unanimously.
Do you like Keko? Share with us your thoughts and feel free to ask any question or for any advice – we are looking forward to it! 😉
If you’re curious about which creative solution has been chosen, check it out on the following link:
Read through our presentation 🙂