You Name It Specialties helps brands find the right promotional product for every story. They wanted a mascot who could carry that idea, and the name came first: Wyatt, a play on “find your Y.” My job was to give him a body, a personality and a reason to show up.
I started in the sketchbook, exploring a character who felt cute, a little sassy and genuinely personable. A bottom-heavy, huggable silhouette, a single tuft of hair, and a range of eye options gave us a shape that read instantly at any size. From there I drew 24 poses so the team could see his range, and Josh and the YNIS team circled the ten that felt most like him.
Those selects became the final illustration set: Wyatt in brand purple with a lime-green tuft, drawn happy, surprised, sly, thinking, waving and pointing, plus a front, side and back turnaround so anyone producing him later stays on model. I paired the art with a character profile and backstory covering his personality, his quirks and his mission, so the brand had a voice to go with the face.
Once the turnaround was locked, I handed Wyatt off. The YNIS team took my front, side and back views to their manufacturer, and the next time I saw him, he was a plush. Opening those first sample photos and seeing my little guy with a real, fuzzy tuft was one of the most fun moments of the whole project. He even came with a “Where’s Wyatt?” hang tag, inviting people to share photos of him out in the world.
The best mascots become something a team can rally behind, and Wyatt already is. He’s been on beach trips, showed up in YNIS’s PPM Magazine feature, and gives the team a face to put on their culture, not just their brand. Looking ahead, I sketched out a few places he could go next: social posts built on the “find your Y” line, a sticker sheet pulled from his poses, and more. He was designed with range in mind, so wherever the team takes him, he’s ready.
Whether you’re here to talk roles, creative challenges, or something in between, I’m all ears. I love thoughtful work, collaborative teams, and solving problems.
