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Blue Monkey Band
Crafting a Mascot with Attitude.
A band’s identity is more than just the music—it’s the energy, personality, and presence that defines them. When Blue Monkey Band, a New England-based blues group, approached Searles Creative for a mascot logo, they wanted something bold and recognizable. What started as a simple monkey illustration quickly evolved into something much more—because as we discovered, their monkey was too cute. They needed a character with grit, attitude, and a little mischief to truly represent their sound.
Category
Art Direction Brand Strategy Visual Identity Marketing
Client
Date
The Challenge
The original concept leaned too playful, missing the edgy, bluesy, and rebellious spirit of the band. The goal became clear: create a mascot that looked like he was up to no good—someone who belonged on a stage under neon lights, not in a kid’s coloring book. The new logo also had to work seamlessly across merch, banners, and digital branding, maintaining a strong presence wherever fans encountered it.
Solution
Enter Nigel—a hand-illustrated mascot with a sly smirk, sharp lines, and just enough mischief to embody the band's identity. Alongside Nigel, we developed a custom hand-drawn wordmark that complemented the raw energy of their music, paired with a carefully curated color palette that gave their brand a distinctive, stage-ready look. The full identity system was designed for maximum flexibility, ensuring it worked effortlessly across merchandise, promotional materials, and social media graphics.
While Blue Monkey Band may no longer be playing, Nigel lives on—a testament to the power of branding in shaping a band’s legacy.
