Military Mascot Design: Silverback Gorilla for US Army Cooking U

Kaity Smith-Leis

Brand Designer
Graphic Designer
Creative Design
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Suite
Military mascots play a vital role in boosting morale, creating unity, and fostering team identity. When tasked with designing a mascot for a US Army cooking unit, I set out to create a unique and impactful visual that resonated with the unit’s spirit. The concept of a silverback gorilla was chosen to symbolize strength, resilience, and the powerful presence of the unit, while also adding a touch of personality to represent camaraderie in a cooking environment.
This project went beyond the initial mascot design. The gorilla was integrated into a wide range of applications, including merchandise such as apparel and unit gear, as well as marketing and communication materials. The design had to be adaptable yet cohesive across different mediums while maintaining the core identity of the unit.
As an ongoing collaboration with the Army, this project is expected to expand with additional mascot designs and variations in the future. Each design will continue to reflect the individuality and spirit of the unit, while maintaining consistency across all visual elements. This process allows for creative flexibility, and the potential to strengthen the visual identity of military units across multiple touchpoints.

As the inaugural leadership of a new organization, the brand you establish leaves a lasting legacy. We had a lot of ideas, but needed a creative mind to bring it to life and Kaity's work was better than we could have imagined! She is pleasant to work with, very responsive, and was flexible with our requests and desired timeline. We are thankful she is a part of our Silverback family and highly recommend her services!  

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