There are two important parts to consider about your mascot: function and image. Function involves the mechanics and functionality of a mascot costume, and image relates to how an audience will perceive and relate to the mascot.

Function

The mechanics of a mascot costume cannot be overlooked as a human must fit inside the costume and it needs to be relatively comfortable. Depending on the actions that the mascot will be performing, the mascot costume may have to be specially engineered to take certain actions into consideration.

If a mascot will be running, for example, the leg portions of the mascot costume must be flexile enough to allow for ample movement of the legs. If a mascot will be jumping around and interacting with the crowd, issues such as flexibility, manageable costume shape and safe flexible outside pieces are all things to be considered.

Image

Image is very important in a mascot costume, as this is the main reason to create a mascot in the first place, right? The first thing is to consider the audience that will be viewing the mascot. If the developing mascot image seems to contradict the idea of the target audience at any point along the way then its going the wrong direction.

Mascot costumes vary depending on the type of coverage it may receive most often. Its one thing to have a sports mascot that shows up to all the season games, but if the same mascot will be appearing on television then there may be some differences as far as what will read best in the television format.

Finally, simple alterations to a mascots expression and the materials that the mascot costume is made of can have big impacts on how a mascot fits with its target audience. For example, changing the eyebrows to be less angled could be an appropriate decision for a childrens show mascot.

When its time to bring your mascot costume into being, be sure to work everything out on paper. This will save you time and money, as well as frustration for both you and the costume designers that you choose to work with.