Preparation
01 · Define the purpose
- Encourage shared identity building through creativity.
- Foster emotional connection and collaboration among group members.
- Transform individual input into a collective creation.
02 · Create the base mascot
- Use or create a blank cloth doll with no facial features or accessories.
- Ensure it is lightweight and easy to transport and modify.
03 · Set a schedule
- Create a timeline so each participant has the mascot for one week.
- Choose a final date to unveil the completed mascot.
04 · Prepare a logbook
- Include a journal or digital document for each person to describe what they added and why.
- Encourage visual documentation: photos, sketches, or written stories.
Step-by-step instructions
1
Kickoff meeting
- Introduce the blank mascot and explain the purpose of the activity.
- Clarify the rules: one addition per person per week, plus a logbook entry.
2
Individual contributions
- Each person adds a new physical or symbolic feature to the mascot.
- They reflect on and document their addition in the logbook.
3
Pass-along process
- After one week, the mascot is passed to the next participant.
- Repeat the process until all participants have contributed.
4
Final presentation
- Hold a closing session where the final version of the mascot is revealed.
- Share stories, reflections, and emotional insights from the process.
Materials
Blank cloth doll (simple structure, no features)
Needles, thread, fabric, yarn, buttons, markers, paint
Glue, scissors, tape
Notebook or digital logbook
Bag or box for transporting the mascot and materials
Digital tools
Practical recommendations
Encourage reuse of old clothes or personal items for emotional significance.
Balance creative freedom with respect for previous contributions.
Offer prompts for those who don’t know what to add (e.g. “What represents you today?”).
Use the final session to reflect on how the mascot changed and what it now represents.
Digitally archive the process to share with others or future groups.
Inspiration
Ideas for elements to add to the mascot
- Eyes (made with buttons, fabric, paint, etc.)
- Embroidered mouth or smile
- Hair or hairstyle using yarn or thread
- Eyebrows or eyelashes
- Clothing: shirt, skirt, pants
- Shoes or decorated feet
- Hat, cap, or headband
- Glasses or sunglasses
- Scarf or bandana
- Backpack or handbag
- Bracelet, necklace, or accessories
- Cape or wings
- Decorative patches
- Pockets with surprise objects
- Small pouch with a hidden message
- Stars, hearts, or other sewn shapes
- Embroidered phrase or word on its clothing
- Small object representing the participant (keychain, button, pin)
- Scent or essence (lavender sprig, cotton with perfume)
- Painted tattoo or symbol
- Random part draw: each participant draws a slip of paper with the part they must add (e.g., "eyes," "shoes," "scarf").
- Thematic intervention: the group chooses a shared theme for the mascot (e.g., ecological, futuristic, retro, mythological animal).
- Mascot as organizational symbol: represents the culture or values of a team or institution.
- Traveling mascot: each person takes a photo with it in a different place and leaves a memento from that location.
- Emotional logbook: along with the physical change, participants include a note about how they felt during the intervention.
- Silent transformation: no writing involved, only physical additions—letting the final image speak for itself.
- Talking mascot: each person invents a phrase or thought that builds the mascot’s “voice.”
- Paired intervention: each stage is done by two people together, encouraging co-creation.
- Time traveler mascot: it’s customized as if it came from the past or future (decades, eras, etc.).
- Chameleon mascot: the intervention is reversible; what one person adds can be modified or replaced by another.
