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Isn’t it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

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The more emotional a site design is, the more likely it is to evoke positive feelings within its visitors. To achieve a lasting impression, designers tend to use visual cues and offer some eye candy for hurried and hectic users. E.g. vibrant color schemes, photos and illustrations can be used to draw user’s attention to some specific site section.

But are there any further options? Yes, there are. Actually, mascots are traditional for sports competitions such as Football World Championship or Olympic Games. Mascot is a more or less nicely designed creature which is symbolic for something and is supposed to evoke sympathy and strengthen the sense of belonging to one single team.

Gnu in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design
Heckert, a handsome wildebeest with typical beard and smart-looking curled horns, is the GNU’s mascot.

Today mascots are used almost everywhere — e.g. by a number of software applications, groups and communties. It can also support the corporate identity for companies and services. Consequently, they are also becoming more and more popular in web designs.

What Do Mascots Look Like?

Animals and human-like creatures are used more frequently than some abstract creatures. The reason is quite trivial: users are more likely to associate their emotions with something they can easily recognize and find emotional binding to. Abstract creatures need to be studied and understood first. Most users don’t have the time and patience to do that. And that’s definitely not sometihng they are looking for in the first place. Still, abstract creatures are also possible.

As the carrier of positive feelings, mascots usually laugh and transport the feeling of joy, contentment and happiness. To leave a lasting impression, mascots have to look as cute, as sweet, as adorable, as pity and sometimes even as silly as possible. Unfortunately, most mascots have no names; however, having a name is rather usual for large communities as it can be easier referred to.

Frank in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design
Classic: Livejournal still has its famout mascot, Frank the Goat. Frank usually says “Baaaa” and likes to eat pants.

Some mascots are just hand-drawn illustrations, others are combined with a logo. They appear throughout the site and motivate users to some actions — e.g. to visit some site section or fill in the sign-up form.

Yigg in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design
Yigg.de uses a hamster as a mascot. The mascot appears everywhere throughout the site.

Illustrations ≠ Mascots

Please notice that an illustration and a mascot aren’t the same thing. Joyent and HappyWebbies use creatures in the comic-style; they’re not mascots, as different creatures are displayed on different pages. Ellislabs also uses illustratoins, not mascots.

Joyent in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design
Joyent

Nielsen in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design
HappyWebbies

Mascots in Modern Web Design

A mascot can provide a site design with a fine and nice detail which the site would miss otherwise. This detail is used on private pages as often as in an online-shop or by a web-service. It’s important that the final mascot design is clean and fits to the overall site design. For instance, a laughing beaver doesn’t really help a site which tries to sell some underwater accessories.

We have collected a number of cute, well-designed and visually appealing mascots. The images are linked and lead to the pages from which they’ve been taken.

BobrDobr

Bobr in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Justin Bird — animated. Don’t forget to hover your mouse over the bird.

Justinbird in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Stoodeo

Stoodeo in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Linksguy

Linksguy in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Wishlistr

Wishllistr in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Brent Ayers

Atlanta in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

NetNova

Guy in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Netmaths

Netmaths in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Kent Pribbernow

Kent in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Cork’d

Corckd in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Freelanceswitch

Freel in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Octwelve

Maryluc in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

GlobalZoo

Globalzoo in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Nü Regime

Nuregime in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Pasquale D’Silva

Darkmotion in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Potato Parade — Flash. This is an McCain’s advertisement.

Potatoe in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Goanna Webdesign (Flash)

Goanna in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Crayons — animated.

Crayons in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Outshouts

Outs in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Fluther

Fluther in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Companion

Companions in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Datejs: Ninjas at work.

Datejs in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Mooourl — the mascot supports the logo.

Moourl in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Dr. Web Magazin

Gelbwurm in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

MeinProf.de

Meinprof in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Vic is a hand-drawn mascot of a Medical Rehabilitation Network.

Nrh in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Amiami Village

Miami in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Sourcebench

Sourcebench in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Classics

Ask.com used to have Mr. Jeeves answering users’ questions. The results weren’t always perfect, but Mr. Jeeves always stayed calm and polite.

Jeeves in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Ask Dr. Z: in 2006 Chrysler unveiled its “Ask Dr. Z” national ad campaign that features the company’s Chairman, Dieter Zetsche, as the spokesperson and mascot.

Askdr in Isnt it sweet? Mascots in Modern Web Design

Should Smashing Magazine have a mascot?

We’d like to know your opinion. If yes, how should it look like? Please let us know in the comments!

The Co-Founder of Smashing Magazine. Former writer, web designer, freelancer and webworker. Author of several books. Runs the business.

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  1. 1
    Oliver
    January 15th, 2008 6:56 am

    Cute collection. Thank you!

  2. 2
    Bughy
    January 15th, 2008 7:03 am

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

  3. 3
    Naomi Niles
    January 15th, 2008 7:14 am

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

  4. 4
    Jean-Philippe Encausse
    January 15th, 2008 7:14 am

    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 ?

  5. 5
    Caesar Tjalbo
    January 15th, 2008 7:23 am

    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!).

  6. 6
    reezluv
    January 15th, 2008 7:39 am

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

  7. 7
    Pasquale
    January 15th, 2008 7:52 am

    Cheers for the feature guys!

  8. 8
    fabien
    January 15th, 2008 8:11 am

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

  9. 9
    Brad K
    January 15th, 2008 8:13 am

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

  10. 10
    Wayne Thume
    January 15th, 2008 8:27 am

    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

  11. 11
    daustralala
    January 15th, 2008 8:31 am

    what about veerle?

  12. 12
    Yaili
    January 15th, 2008 8:42 am

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

  13. 13
    Luc
    January 15th, 2008 9:08 am

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

  14. 14
    JamieO
    January 15th, 2008 9:48 am

    I love my little alien mascot. In fact, the currently unnamed species of alien is part of a re-branding contest 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.

  15. 15
    Gabe
    January 15th, 2008 9:53 am

    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”!

  16. 16
    Brad
    January 15th, 2008 10:29 am

    AGREE! Large Mallet, lots of cuteness.

  17. 17
    Paolo
    January 15th, 2008 10:47 am

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

  18. 18
    PixlNinja
    January 15th, 2008 11:33 am

    Vector arts dominates !!

  19. 19
    Ty
    January 15th, 2008 11:49 am

    I hadn’t seen many of these, it’s amazing what quests you people can come up with.
    http://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!

  20. 20
    Shane
    January 15th, 2008 12:02 pm

    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.

  21. 21
    Marty
    January 15th, 2008 1:23 pm

    What, am I six years old?

    Leave Tony the Tiger on the cereal box.

  22. 22
    Jonathan
    January 15th, 2008 1:55 pm

    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.

  23. 23
    Samuel
    January 15th, 2008 3:23 pm

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

  24. 24
    decybel
    January 15th, 2008 4:24 pm

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

  25. 25
    cindy*staged4more
    January 15th, 2008 5:19 pm

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

    Cheers,
    Cindy

  26. 26
    Kim
    January 15th, 2008 5:31 pm

    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!)

  27. 27
    Carlos Andres
    January 15th, 2008 8:18 pm

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

  28. 28
    haungo
    January 15th, 2008 10:59 pm

    Please NO Mascot for Smashing Mag!

  29. 29
    fedmich
    January 15th, 2008 11:49 pm

    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, :)

  30. 30
    Brian
    January 16th, 2008 1:01 am

    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!

  31. 31
    Andreas
    January 16th, 2008 1:15 am

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

  32. 32
    Eric
    January 16th, 2008 3:19 am

    Please please please please no logo for Smashing!

  33. 33
    Koldo Barroso
    January 16th, 2008 4:19 am

    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!

  34. 34
    Chris
    January 16th, 2008 6:15 am

    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.

  35. 35
    BlueTurtle
    January 16th, 2008 6:33 am

    yes!!! It is cool

  36. 36
    therapix
    January 16th, 2008 6:36 am

    Love the whale.

  37. 37
    gr8pixel
    January 16th, 2008 6:37 am

    hehe.. that’s a good one! :)

  38. 38
    Ulli
    January 16th, 2008 8:00 am

    Does anyone rember “Clarus the Dogcow”?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogcow

  39. 39
    Aaron
    January 16th, 2008 8:14 am

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

  40. 40
    David Bailey
    January 16th, 2008 8:36 am

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

  41. 41
    Gene
    January 16th, 2008 2:15 pm

    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..?

  42. 42
    James
    January 16th, 2008 4:18 pm

    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…

  43. 43
    gene
    January 16th, 2008 6:25 pm

    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…

  44. 44
    Darren
    January 16th, 2008 8:54 pm

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

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

  45. 45
    tripdragon
    January 17th, 2008 7:33 am

    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

  46. 46
    bgolat
    January 17th, 2008 6:45 pm

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

  47. 47
    wez
    January 21st, 2008 2:01 am

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

  48. 48
    The Mascot
    January 24th, 2008 6:56 pm

    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.

  49. 49
    james
    January 27th, 2008 2:19 am

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

  50. 50
    Natrium
    January 28th, 2008 3:06 am

    looks like a majority wants a mascot for SmashingMagazine

  51. 51
    JasonR
    January 29th, 2008 5:09 pm

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

  52. 52
    Kevin
    February 6th, 2008 1:38 pm

    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.

  53. 53
    cssbit
    February 10th, 2008 8:56 am

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

  54. 54
    tuor
    March 5th, 2008 3:18 am

    Made a mascot for an online shop 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?

  55. 55
    Nancy
    July 29th, 2008 12:01 am

    Hello!!
    Ya this mascot and cartoon poster look like really funky style.

  56. 56
    Megastar Media
    September 17th, 2008 6:46 pm

    i love individuality…if ur gonna use a mascot, for the love of *&*&! make sure it is something original!

    ;)
    sandy
    megastar media

  57. 57
    ali
    October 26th, 2008 3:57 am

    very nice!

  58. 58
    Arlyn Tan
    February 5th, 2009 3:23 pm

    this is a great collection !

  59. 59
    Flu-Bird
    April 29th, 2009 8:21 pm

    Justin Bird looks like a BLUEBIRD

  60. 60
    Mor
    June 7th, 2009 5:03 pm

    Where can i get the freelancer for mascot and logo ?

  61. 61
    m*
    September 7th, 2009 4:11 am

    this is a great collection !
    my site

  62. 62
    Flu-Bird
    November 10th, 2009 10:00 pm

    Justin Bird looks cute dont he

  1. 00

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