Cute collection. Thank you!

That’s so cool, it’s like hi-tech 60′ :))

Link [www.oriental-gallery.com] has just launched today has a cute mascot design too.

Mascots and characters can work really well for branding if done properly and tastefully.

Thanks !
This post is exactly what I was looking for :-)

Does anybody know where to find a repository, database, … of modern mascots available for personal websites ?

It sometimes seems as every FOSS project has its own mascot, from penquins to dragons and devils.
I got a bit of a shock when seeing the mascot of Crayons, it reminded me of Clippy (the horror!).

you forgot to include Link [www.famundo.com] :)

Although she is not an illustration, Microsoft’s Ms. Dewey might be worth adding to the list!

Link [www.msdewey.com]

The Link [support.pn-cms.de] uses an icebear as mascot, even before the Knut-hype in Germany started :-)

maybe there a squirrel or maybe a chipmunks mascot holding magazines?:)

Cheers for the feature guys!

Hi great selection, i’m looking for my own mascott actuelly (actuelly i’m my own mascott ;-) ), this can inspire me, thanks a lot

What are the common tools used to create and/or animate cartoon-like mascots?

Yes a mascot would be cute and obviously he should have a large mallet in his hands that is “Smashing” the ground as the the mascot hovers in the air, triumphant from the force of the impact

what about veerle?

In this website we have a mascot too !!

Link [humorbabaca.com]

A entertainment website, with jokes, funny images and much more!

And if happens the contest for choose a mascot for Smashing Magazine, I will participate!

Great Post! :)

Some of these mascots can be bought from iStockPhoto.com, like the ones from FreelanceSwitch, Kent Pribbernow and Stoodeo.

I think mascot is the better way to remember a site. I use one too :
Smashing magazine can make a mascot too but maybe not as a logo but as a companion.

Link [www.songbirdnest.com].

Woah! That’s me! I’m soo delighted to be featured! Thanks! ^_^

Smashing should have a mascot, but only if it’s Link [gallaghersmash.com] smashing a watermelon.

I love my little alien mascot. In fact, the currently unnamed species of alien is part of a Link [www.oastler.ca] I currently have running to help generate name for my freelance design company to be.

I might be toeing the line on the ‘do not advertise’ aspect, but I hope that giving Smashing Magazine readers the chance to win prizes would be warmly received instead of frowned upon.

I think a mallet/hammer or an anvil would be a good mascot. I’m not much of an illustrator, so I don’t have an image of one, but either of those would be “smashing”!

AGREE! Large Mallet, lots of cuteness.

Great post, as usual!
And yes, you shoul have a mascot too, they are really cool.

Vector arts dominates !!

I hadn’t seen many of these, it’s amazing what quests you people can come up with.
Link [www.justinbird.com] stood out to me as the best of the lot.
Check out his portfolio, he mixes flash and html elements fairly well, not quite validating, but…
Vector Kung Fu specialists rock!

A lot of those are of a very similar style (Wishlistr, Brent Ayers, Netmaths, Cork’d, Freelanceswitch for example), and whilst that’s no bad thing, it seems like quite a few sites now have them.

The reason I come back to smashingmagazine.com is the content, and I don’t feel a mascot, however cute or appropriate will make much difference to me.

Great post! Some really cute stuff going on there ;)
But you forgot the red zebra at Link [redzee.com]

What, am I six years old?

Leave Tony the Tiger on the cereal box.

Thanks for the Link [www.happywebbies.com] hit!

…let us know if you’re still looking for a mascot. heh.

Another one: Link [www.agentb.com]

I think mascots do work for certain sites. Especially if you want to evoke that “awww” feeling.

I think Smashing Magazine works well just the way it is. I don’t think it needs a mascot.

What? no Link [veerle.duoh.com]

Can inanimate objects be considered mascots? Or must a mascot be in the animal family?

amazing stuff out there ! and please we’re used to SM surprises, so hit us ^^

What a fun post! I have to say though, several of them look like brothers and sisters ;)

Cheers,
Cindy

I hope you consider a squirrel if you decide to go the mascot route - they just are not enough of them online. They’re pretty much ignored and nobody takes them seriously. But they’re fierce creatures who crack nuts! Your squirrel should definitely crack nuts (a simile for uncovering and exposing great information!)

I myself use a mascot for my blog!
Link [germworks.net]

Is just me or I smell a Mascot Contest in the future?!

Hei… great collection… by the way…, my website also has a mascot… :) Link [www.thedesignsuperhero.com]

and see another mascot.. Link [reportfrog.com]

Please NO Mascot for Smashing Mag!

Cute collections :)
I like justin bird the most :)

and I think smashing doesn’t need mascots i like it just the way it is now, :)

I’m with Kim (above).. go with a squirrel. Name him (or her) Smashy the Squirrel. I can see a whole line of Smashy the Squirrel merchandise!

… for sure a mascot would be good, but nothing cute - simply clear

Please please please please no logo for Smashing!

This a very interesting subject! Lovely to see all these charactes together. In our business we constantly promote the use of characters to build up the image od a web site, and we have also created a few ones. And of course, we had our Chef mascot for one year and it helped us a lot to get better recognigsed in the Internet. Sometimes the get better than logos!

I see mascots simply as a means to sell kids something shitty.

Its not long before a mascot loses its novelty factor - then its endearing qualities are replaced by irritating ones - remember this if you want to use ‘cute’ to attract people to your site.

p.s death to Tony the Tiger, The Tetley Teafolk and that fucking monkey who turns your milk chocolately.

yes!!! It is cool

Love the whale.

hehe.. that’s a good one! :)

another option is to have a mascot in the logo, seen here on a chinese music website (a monk with headphones): Link [www.louder.cn]

Does anyone rember “Clarus the Dogcow”?

Link [en.wikipedia.org]

You’re mascot shout be a rhino because Smashing Magazine smashes you with force…like a rhino!

Looks like all these people have too many credits to spend on istockphoto

Hey! Check out this mascot Link [www.modernmonster.com] that I’ve made.

Don’t forget the infamous Link [techguytales.com]

Please stick to something simple and something that doesnt look like it was pulled out from Veerle’s library. Perhaps something along the lines of Kid Robot-ish..?

I don’t know about you guys getting one, mascots on websites seem to be there to make the site more ‘human’ to technophobic users. And I don’t think your readership falls into that category, it just feels like dumbing it down… Just my 2 cents…

i actually agree with james (#63). Smashing Magazine already has a logo… the S in a box, why add more to it? Sure Smashing talks about trends in the industry, but why follow em if they are only just trends? Trends eventually die out…

Great blog! :) I have a mascot, which gets mentioned alot.

I don’t think a mascot would suit this type of blog though.

here are some nice Link [www.openpuppets.com]
hope you like it

Ask Jeeves is a classic… I remember the pre Google days, that used to be my favorite search engine. Link [dharma.indviews.com]

Sweet stuff, check out Link [www.yodiv.com,] cutest little things ever!!

sorry that should be Link [www.yodiv.com]

Not a fan. Especially of this Illustrator gradient look for the models. They reek of , meh… In most cases. I dont know , just not a fan I guess

there are some cool mascots on there, I don’t really think the stock vector mascots should be included though…

Very bad!!!! … you forgot about me, the king of mascot design :)

Here is my examples: Link [www.sosfactory.com]

Cheers

For #13 Brad K:

Here you can learn a bit about mascot design for websites: Link [www.sosnewbie.com]

You can include my mascot too if you like : P
Link [www.malditoweekend.com]

btw, Sergio Ordoñez IS THE BEST! look at his work.

Regards.

why do people that criticize never have a web page link on their name. Great resource.

Well, it looks like a bunch of people are commenting for free links to their websites, so I’ll do the same. Granted, their “mascots” are completely inadequate (I am THE Mascot, after all). But in general the idea’s a good one, even though those other mascots aren’t as good-looking as me.

Smashing won’t be able to come up with something as special as me, so they should just stick with the logo.

Stop spamming your sites guys. Most of them suck anyway. The guys on here deserve it because they are actually good.

looks like a majority wants a mascot for SmashingMagazine

Your mascot should be a little fellow who looks kind of crazy with a big hammer.

Where can I buy these mascot? Also where could I find the tutorial to create mascots like the one that have been listed?

I think smashing magazine should have a mascot it would be sweet.

oui je suis d’accord .. je veux tellement une photo pour mon profile :)

Made a mascot for an Link [angelsandmore.ch] to guide through the steps of selecting and purchasing products. I think its a great addition to any site that requires a user to do things in sequential order.

Microsoft Bob anyone?

when you say mascot, can the animation here: Link [www.maxlifestyle.net] be considered as a mascot?