When Oslo2011 started the process of developing the mascots for the World Nordic Ski Championships, they understood early on that they needed advice to buy that kind of design service. - It felt natural to go to the Norwegian Design Council for the necessary help in finding who was best suited to solve such a task, says Eunike Ditlefsen, marketing manager of Oslo2011.

One of the things that were important in the development of the mascots, was that they had to stand well to the already existing visual profile. In addition, the illustrator needed to convert the mascot to function in several areas and formats.

- There is great potential in the mascot, and it is an important visual element in the development of both WSCs clothing line, soft toys and souvenirs - as well as print and digital. But it is however as important as an arena mascot, where it must play in more facets than just the visual, says an enthusiastic Eunike Ditlefsen.

A mascot for all

Norwegian Design Council's advisors selected and recommended three illustrators they thought well suited for the project. Of them, the choice fell on Trond Vestengen, which is the man who designed "Fnugg" and "Ull". The mascots are designed with the wish that the people themselves should be able to use them.

- You do not go skiing with a carrot and a hat. By using what we have available in the nature and in your back pack, the kids can easily create the mascot when they are out in the wild. This creates involvement and ownership of the mascot and the whole event, says Trond Vestengen.

This is the reason why the characters have a clementine as nose and pine needles as ears. The characters are otherwise quite simple and stylish, because Trond felt it important that the mascots could be easily recreated by the public.

Creating excitement

The interest after the launc 20 October, shows that he has largely succeeded in creating characters that people care about. Many people have expressed their opinions, and most appear to be satisfied with the two mascots.

- Most people have a relationship to snowmen from when you are a small child, and it gives associations to play, fun, winter and snow. In this way, the mascot match very well with the WSC´s vision to create excitement and winter joy , says Monica Fossnes Petersson, Director Business Advisory Services of the Norwegian Design Council.