The Creative Process Behind Booki: Simplicity and Versatility in Design

Creating a unique and memorable character to represent a brand is always a challenge, and that was the mission when we developed Booki, the official mascot of the Todo por Contar book club. This club, with over 15,000 followers on Instagram, needed a fresh and friendly image that could connect with its growing audience. Thus, Booki was born—a minimalist and versatile character that not only visually embodies the essence of the club but has also become a symbol of accessibility and dynamism.

The Challenge: Representing a Community with Its Own Identity

Character design is a discipline where every stroke matters. From the beginning, the goal with Booki was to create a character that reflected the club’s values: education, approachability, and freshness. It was also essential that this character could adapt to different formats and situations, both on digital platforms and in physical events or printed materials.

Simplicity and versatility were the two pillars of Booki's design. We set out to create something visually appealing yet flexible enough to adapt to various environments. By collaborating with our illustrator and constantly gathering feedback from the club’s community, we managed to consolidate a character that, in its simplicity, exudes personality and professionalism.

Creative Process: From Concept to Final Illustration

The creation of Booki began with a series of conceptual sketches. Being a book club, we wanted the character to convey intelligence, friendliness, and coolness without resorting to academic stereotypes. This was reflected in the shape of its body, particularly its head with rounded corners, which is one of the character's key elements. We opted for a minimalist design, with thick, clean lines that could be easily recognized.

The technique of combining vector and line illustration was ideal to ensure that Booki could be scaled without losing quality, allowing it to be used across different sizes and formats. This is crucial for any character that will be used in various applications, from social media to physical products.

Key Design Elements of Booki

One of the main decisions was to focus on the simple proportions of Booki’s body. Its rectangular torso and limbs outlined by thin lines are complemented by its large, rounded head, which reinforces its friendly demeanor. The glasses it wears are a distinctive feature that strengthens the character’s connection to the world of books and knowledge, an essential aspect of its identity in the context of the book club.

The color palette also plays a fundamental role. Inspired by the visual identity of Todo por Contar, Booki uses black tones for the outlines and details, with accent colors like orange and aquamarine for clothing. This choice not only helps the character stand out but also maintains consistency with the club’s image, creating an easily recognizable visual experience.

Simplicity That Connects: Expressions and Versatility

Despite its simple design, Booki manages to convey a wide range of emotions and poses, making it adaptable to different contexts. One of its most important features is its ability to express emotions with just a few elements. Booki’s eyes, represented by simple lines, and its wide smile allow it to effectively convey joy, approachability, and accessibility.

Moreover, during the character's development, we focused on designing versatile poses that could be used in various situations. From a friendly greeting stance to a more assertive pose with hands on hips, Booki can adapt to different communication moments. We even designed a formal variant of the character, with a shirt and tie, for more serious or professional occasions. This versatility is one of the reasons why Booki has resonated so well with the book club's audience.

The Impact of Booki: Social Media Results and Visual Presence

Since its launch, Booki has had a positive impact on the image of Todo por Contar. On social media, the audience has responded warmly, praising both the design and the character's personality. Its versatility has allowed it to be used in various visual campaigns, such as book presentations, interactive posts, and live events.

Thanks to its minimalist design and attention to graphic details, Booki has become a recognizable and beloved symbol within the book club community. The simplicity of its shapes and colors has allowed it to stay consistent with the brand while maintaining recognizability. Additionally, its friendly and approachable style has emotionally connected with followers, a key aspect in any character creation process.