Mascot Creation & Evolution
Building Characters That Grow With Your Brand. At Imaginity, a leading design agency specializing in packaging design and branding, we craft mascots that connect emotionally, adapt to evolving markets, and stay relevant across generations. Our mascot creation process blends strategic insight with bold creativity—turning brand values into memorable characters that resonate across every consumer touchpoint.
Why Mascots Matter
Mascots are powerful tools in modern branding—emotional brand ambassadors that go beyond aesthetics. At Imaginity, we see mascots as storytelling engines that build stronger brand recall and long-term engagement. Whether it’s a quirky snack character, a tech platform guide, or a retail campaign hero, mascots make brands more human, more memorable, and more relatable.
Mascots thrive across industries like snacks, beverages, children’s products, entertainment, and sports—where emotional connection drives loyalty. Developed intentionally, they become icons that consumers grow up with and grow attached to.
Case Study: The Evolution of Peppy
Meet Peppy—the beloved cheese puff mascot from Publix.
Original Peppy debuted as a 2D illustrated owl with a smile. He was friendly, but flat—simple in form, and playful in intent.
Modern Peppy has evolved into a vibrant 3D-style character with big eyes, defined features, and an expressive personality. His hands gesture playfully, his shape is fuller, and he looks like he could leap off the bag and into your snack bowl.
The Outcome: The new version of Peppy retains the nostalgia of the original while delivering stronger branding, more emotional appeal, and greater shelf standout—showcasing how mascot creation and evolution can refresh brand energy without losing its core.
Our Approach to Mascot Creation
As a brand-forward design agency, we approach mascot creation as a blend of strategic thinking and imaginative design. Each project begins with a deep dive into your brand DNA to ensure your mascot is aligned, original, and ready to perform across all channels—from packaging and social media to motion content and merchandise.
Phase 1: Strategic Foundation
Every great mascot begins with a clear brand strategy. We define your brand's core values, voice, personality, and emotional triggers. Who are we targeting? What do we want them to feel? Through a competitive audit of your category’s mascot landscape, we identify clichés to avoid and whitespace for differentiation—setting your mascot creation on a solid foundation.
Phase 2: Character Concepting
Next, we dive into character exploration. We explore character types and visual styles—from friendly animals and personified products to abstract forms that symbolize your brand values. Our illustrators develop multiple design directions, paired with character profiles (name, traits, backstory) that bring them to life. These early sketches serve as the conceptual heart of your mascot's journey.
Phase 3: Visual Development
With a chosen concept in place, we bring your mascot to life in full color. We craft a visual system with expressions, poses, and mascot-in-action scenes, ensuring your character adapts seamlessly across media: packaging, POS, digital ads, and more. Our mascots are designed to be flexible, expressive, and brand-right across every platform.
Mascot Evolution: Keeping Characters Fresh
Even the most iconic mascots need to evolve. Audiences change, trends shift, and brands grow. We help modernize mascots while preserving their original charm—updating their design, expanding their roles, or refreshing their tone of voice without losing what makes them loved.
Sometimes it’s a subtle refresh. Other times it’s a complete reimagining. Either way, our goal is to retain brand equity while making the character more relevant, expressive, and engaging for today’s consumer.
Mascot in Use
A successful mascot isn’t just a character—it’s a versatile brand tool. We ensure your mascot works seamlessly across packaging design, point-of-sale, and digital content to create consistent, high-impact brand experiences.
Here’s how we put mascots into action:
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Packaging Design:
Your mascot becomes a visual anchor across bags, boxes, bottles, and sleeves—enhancing visibility and adding personality at shelf.
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Retail Displays:
From life-size cutouts to endcap displays, mascots help spark engagement and elevate the in-store experience. -
Social Media & Digital:
Stickers, GIFs, reels, and branded animations bring your mascot to life across Instagram, TikTok, and beyond.
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Motion & Video:
Characters become spokespeople and storytellers in animated explainers or campaign videos.
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Events & Merch:
From plush toys to giveaways and promotional wearables, your mascot extends into real-world brand love.
At Imaginity, we specialize in mascot creation that moves fluidly between digital, retail, and experiential branding—turning characters into brand superstars.
Why Work With Imaginity
With decades of experience in branding, packaging design, and mascot creation, Imaginity is a strategic partner for brands looking to stand out. Our cross-disciplinary team of brand strategists, illustrators, animators, and designers brings characters to life with creativity and purpose. We don’t just design mascots—we build brand characters that live, evolve, and grow with you.
Let’s Bring Your Brand to Life
Looking for a design agency that understands how to turn your brand into a story worth remembering?
