A Referral
In the middle of our 9th term at National University, Natalia Molito, a classmate talented in Graphics Design, referred Igris Balteus Constructions to me who was looking for a mascot designer at the time. They wanted someone with experience designing mascots.
An inspiration they gave me was an image of Commander Igris, a powerful knight from Solo Leveling. The knight fits their commitment for strength, discipline, and reliability which I would be emphasizing on the mascot’s design.
Building a Face for the Brand
The first two days were spent designing the mascot, being able to produce 2 drafts per day.
Based on the touching key points, I've come up with the following brand board:
Concept 1
The first design has a more rounded or “cartoonish” design of a tiny knight with a yellow helmet referencing a hard hat and a relatively huge hammer for a weapon instead of a sword. A decision inspired by the Shovel Knight from the game with the same name. The goal for this draft was a more “market-friendly” design.
Concept 2
The second draft has a sharper style showing a clearer basis to the inspiration Commander Igris. It uses the same idea as the first one being a knight with a relatively huge hammer for a weapon, the helmet hinting on the company’s logo, a clear company logo written on its belt buckle, and a green flame for mane. This is for the case that the company wants to look sharper or “cooler” that matches the company’s logo.
These drafts were shown at the end of the day and eventually received notes for the next drafts.
- Keep the fire mane
- Use an outfit that looks more like a construction worker
- Level for a weapon
- And a thumbs up for a default pose
Concept 3
The first draft of the second batch is a construction worker with a knight’s helmet made to look like a construction hat and applying all the notes made by the company.
Concept 4
The second is a safer and more average choice, a construction worker without many unique features besides the large level. This safe approach was meant to offer more options to the client besides the previous drafts and closer to the other - more human - inspiration construction designs that they provided.
By the third day, they decided for the 3rd design after another day of deciding the color palette. Introducing; Igris! The official mascot for Igris Balteus Constructions.
Assets, Assets, Assets…
As per the deal, I now need to make a handful of assets the given are the list with the addition of the reference sheet - a mascot creation staple - but before that, since this was the least priority, I first worked on a list of assets they need as the launch approaches. This includes…
- Car Emblem
- University Logo
- 2 Announcement Poses
- Combination Mark
As of writing this, you may encounter the mascot appearing on Igris Balteus’ Facebook page publication materials as well as standees and posters during special occasions. I’d like to thank Natalia Molito for sharing this opportunity and Igris Balteus Constructions for opening this in the first place. This task has been a great opportunity to make use of a relatively niche skill of mine, balance this with our capstone at the time, and communicating remotely with a paying client.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)