SPORTFONDSEN’S MASCOT MADE BY PROMO BEARS IS USED AS A EDUCATIONAL TOOL
Sportfondsen found an effective way of using their mascot for their company
Credits: Zwembad de Viergang via Facebook
Case Study
Turning A Mascot Into An Educative Partner
Sportfondsen and Promo Bears succeeded in bringing alive a true character: Jip! This hippo mascot is being used as an educational tool for children. The mascot helps and guides them throughout the whole process of obtaining their swim diplomas. This way, children will feel more comfortable as well as confident in achieving their goals. Sportfondsen purchased over 30 mascots to have Jip present at as many locations as possible!
Credits: Zwembad het Wedde via website
About The Project | The Design
The first step was to request a free quote describing the wishes and ideas of the mascot. Once received this quote, the design team started creating designs based on the wishes and ideas. As Sportfondsen already had a great idea of what they wanted, the designers could easily create a perfect hippo called ‘Jip’. After the approval of the design, the production started. Once the mascot costume was ready, it was sent out to our office. Here we do a final check on the costume and take pictures to send to the client for final approval on the mascot costume. If there are still small adjustments needed, we can do that in our office. When the client is fully satisfied, we send out the amazing costume and cannot wait for their reaction!
THE CREATION OF CHARACTER JIP
According to an article by Sportfondsen, the creation of the character Jip is quite interesting. Together with some organizations, among which several locations of Sportfondsen, they started sponsoring the stay of the hippopotamuses in a well-known Dutch zoo. In this hippo-stay, two newborn hippos were living from which one was called ‘Jip’. Several illustrations of Jip were then drawn by a swim teacher and handed out at the locations that participated in the sponsoring. Because of the increasing popularity of Jip, an official illustrator created a professional design of the character, which was the first step in the new way of teaching children how to swim. To fully bring alive this character, Promo Bears created multiple mascots for different locations with the designs and ideas of Sportfondsen. This way, Jip was brought to life in a way that Sportfondsen imagined!
Source: Sportfondsen 100 jaar
Credits: dol-fijn via website
HOW DOES SPORTFONDSEN USE THEIR MASCOT?
Sportfondsen established its own program in collaboration with researchers where its mascot is helping children pass their swim diplomas. An initiative of the student researchers was for the kids to obtain points. The children will receive a bracelet with a chip that is connected to an app. Whenever they give mascot Jip a high-five after swimming, they earn a point which is registered in the app as the bracelet connects with the sensor in the mascot’s hand. Swimming will be fun for children this way as well as the fact that their activity is being tracked online.
Source: Hogeschool Utrecht via website
