Olert the Owl—Mascot Design

In developing our design, our intent was to instill confidence in users about digital banking. Through a mascot character, we aimed to communicate the importance of digital literacy and the need for vigilance in maintaining security.

We chose an animal mascot for two key reasons: first, its relatability and emotional appeal. Animals have universal charm, evoking strong emotional connections across all age groups, making it easier for audiences to engage with the character. Additionally, animals can be anthropomorphised, creating an endearing and approachable brand image.

Second, from a marketing and engagement perspective, animals are memorable and distinctive, making them more effective for brand recall than abstract or human characters. They are also versatile in design, adaptable across different media and platforms, and can be animated to further enhance engagement.

We chose the owl as our mascot for its strong symbolic association with wisdom. While other animals may be linked with traits like confidence, we felt the owl best represented the qualities we wanted to convey. Owls are often perceived as wise and alert, embodying the values of awareness, caution, and vigilance—traits that are crucial in the fight against scams and fraud.

Olert the Owl is designed in a tech suit to symbolise being well-equipped and protected with digital literacy, safety measures, and reminders. The suit features a shield emblem, a ‘!’ on the helmet, and eye gear—all symbols reinforcing the importance of vigilance and the need to stop and check. Olert’s outstretched arm gesture further emphasises this call for awareness and caution.

We designed Olert the Owl to be versatile and adaptable across various media and platforms. Its compact shape ensures easy reproduction in different sizes and formats, while its distinctive form maintains integrity and recognisability, offering flexibility in scalability. In animations, the character can be brought to life with different states of the tech suit, expressions, and gestures, providing dynamic opportunities for engagement.