![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/16240a4fb5063ef8c0222e02be6b2d6e/ce488c880c6e639d33097f219e14687d201dc85a3d9a63ef0ce4ccfc2175d8142a914ecaa28034dd_rw_1920.png?h=92d9abf87eac2c90c8facbb2fd6d1674)
The Foreign Candy Company was looking for a mascot for their RIPS candy line and approached us to help them develop a charater that could be used on their website, packaging and as a costume that they would be able to bring to trade shows.
The process took about 6 months and went through many phases.
The first phase was what would the charactor be? Would it have a purpose? Is there a backstory?
Or would it be just a non-descript icon.
After weeks of brainstorming and research we landed on three possilbe charactors:
Riptide, the extreme sports Cockatoo, Ripply the Mad scientist and creator of RIPS
and Rippy the superhero.
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/16240a4fb5063ef8c0222e02be6b2d6e/7784e5efe73726555239641b9a3535f33bec70cc2731723015961e7dcf2255decc616a571ba52766_rw_1920.png?h=1539b7498163bc6194dc4afbe4ff3a73)
In phase two we started sketching what the charactor would look like. This process took about four weeks.
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf5.myportfolio.com/16240a4fb5063ef8c0222e02be6b2d6e/6f58ec4e30d6e6fe62d570fb9369534e78428a8c86c0c78c5e66fa93b0c7da1d58434f81d20d42cf_rw_1920.png?h=faeba7bc606c30101ffecf0339d20ce8)
Ripply the scientist was selected as the character the client felt most represented the candy.
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf.myportfolio.com/16240a4fb5063ef8c0222e02be6b2d6e/84302e12da3c45810f9c4bdebda04f70226cd010965a674343e88944f3100c6966e7cf12366b0b2a_rw_1920.png?h=ea190b208c57e7c31a8ed5108b70b72b)
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf1.myportfolio.com/16240a4fb5063ef8c0222e02be6b2d6e/9532c7b04527eb3a1fec45956b69b4e66a2ae072f5936d13296a949708d5f2ec76b5003590b281cc_rw_1920.png?h=bb7a56645131a02cfdf585e4329ad937)
In phase three we spent over two months developing and refining the characteristics of Ripply until it was narrowed
down to just a couple of variations. Sport coat / lab coat & red or green.
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf6.myportfolio.com/16240a4fb5063ef8c0222e02be6b2d6e/a383912eea51080d3a40c4b538e6e16db81e4087355e1b35d54c3ca5b64a230c317ed6ec64253116_rw_1920.png?h=e3bc53a4ab736b78aaecda98b49d94d4)
After a few more weeks we had a winner. This is the offical discription for Ripply:
“This is an iconic image that uses the actual shape and texture of the candy to create an identifiable character. He is a humorous, scientist on a mission for innovation in licorice. We will capitalize on his bold and energetic personality with wild hair coming from the “ripped” edges of the candy, thick-framed glasses or goggles, and animated facial expressions.”
![](https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf2.myportfolio.com/16240a4fb5063ef8c0222e02be6b2d6e/d84209437aa7e01851f821a3742477355421d363075f06e90a5b5397ffdf1ee779d2d3690633b79c_rw_1920.png?h=6049b6ddb520373267b9349fe593ad29)