Client: Pleasant Hill Elementary School
Location: Kissimmee, Florida
Project: Panda Mascot & Elementary Brand Identity
School Type: Elementary School
School District: Osceola County School District

Pleasant Hill Elementary School, located in Kissimmee, Florida, is a student-centered educational institution that emphasizes collaboration, academic achievement, and creativity. As part of the Osceola County School District, Pleasant Hill Elementary provides a nurturing environment where young learners are encouraged to develop both academically and socially through engaging curriculum and supportive teaching practices.

The school approached our agency to develop a friendly, appealing brand identity centered around a Panda mascot that would resonate with elementary-aged children while establishing a distinctive presence within the district. The identity needed to project warmth and positivity while creating immediate recognition and school pride among students, families, and the broader community.

Through collaborative discussions with school leadership, faculty representatives, parent committee members, and student council representatives, we established the following objectives for the Pleasant Hill Elementary School Pandas brand identity:

  • Create a friendly, endearing panda mascot that connects immediately with elementary-aged children
  • Develop a playful yet structured visual identity system that inspires school pride
  • Design a versatile brand that functions effectively across educational and community contexts
  • Establish a bold red, black, and white color palette that creates strong recognition
  • Build a cohesive identity that supports the school’s emphasis on collaboration and creativity
  • Create a system that balances child-appeal with educational credibility

Strategic Approach

Our research into elementary school branding revealed the importance of creating identities that genuinely engage young children while providing the institutional structure expected by parents and the community. The visual system needed to appear approachable and friendly while supporting the school’s educational mission and values.

The panda was selected as the ideal mascot for several strategic reasons:

  • Pandas naturally appeal to children through their distinctive appearance and gentle associations
  • The black and white coloration creates immediate visual recognition and strong contrast
  • The animal symbolizes peaceful strength, collaboration, and steadiness – values aligned with the school
  • The character can be rendered in ways that project both friendliness and dignity
  • The distinctive face creates immediate recognition even in simplified applications

The color palette of red, black, and white was strategically chosen to:

  • Create a bold, energetic presence through the dominant red background
  • Utilize the panda’s natural black and white coloration for character recognition
  • Establish strong contrast that ensures visibility across applications
  • Create a distinctive presence that stands apart from other elementary schools
  • Project both warmth and educational substance through color balance

Design Development

Mascot Creation

The Panda mascot was developed with careful attention to both child appeal and brand versatility:

  • The friendly panda face creates immediate connection with young audiences
  • The simplified treatment balances character with clean graphic forms
  • The expressive features (eyes, smile, ears) provide personality and warmth
  • The circular background creates a natural framing device
  • The balanced design communicates both friendliness and stability

The final design features an appealing panda character centered in a circular badge with the “HOME OF THE PANDAS” designation curving along the top. The “PLEASANT HILL” wordmark is boldly positioned below in a banner treatment, with “ELEMENTARY” as a supporting descriptor, creating a balanced composition with strong visual hierarchy and immediate appeal to young children.

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