By Tom Degun

nerv 16-04-12April 16 - Glasgow 2014 has appointed United Kingdom-based creative digital agency nerv to bring to life the official mascot for the Commonwealth Games, which has been designed by the winner of a nationwide children's competition.

The search for a creative digital agency began on October 27 last year to mark 1,000 days to go until the Glasgow 2014 Opening Ceremony.

It was the same day that the competition to design the mascot was launched where thousands of children from across Britain entered their designs.

The winning designer and their mascot have now been chosen but they will not be announced until after the conclusion of the London 2012 Paralympics in September this year when the design will have been refined and developed by nerv.

The agency, who has worked leading brands such as Ted Baker, MTV and L'Oreal, will create a design in the mascot's signature pose, as well as a design of the mascot participating in all 17 sports taking place at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

They will also create animated films of the mascot taking part in the sports, for use online and on venue scoreboards, and a short film introducing the mascot and their imaginative backstory.

A similar concept has been used on the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic mascots Wenlock and Mandeville, who have featured in several animated short stories written by acclaimed children's author Michael Morpurgo.

"After an extensive search, culminating in a three-way competitive pitch, we are delighted to appoint creative digital agency nerv to lead the final design stage of our Glasgow 2014 mascot," said Glasgow 2014's head of marketing and advertising Martin Reynolds.

"Their approach was ambitious, innovative and engaging – all key qualities we hope to see realised in the mascot itself.

"This is a hugely exciting and highly visible project.

"Knowing the strength of nerv's ambitions and ideas, we can't wait to introduce our mascot to the world later this year."

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Since 2003, nerv has been providing creative, strategic and digital production services to other agencies, from global networks to specialist boutiques.

They now have 20 specialists in two offices in London and Cheltenham, who work across design, technology and communication disciplines to create work that reaches out and engages consumers across multiple channels and executions.

"It's truly humbling to have been appointed to realise the Mascot for Glasgow 2014," said nerv's managing director Cynan Clucas.

"The Commonwealth Games is a unique and inspiring event, and we look forward to delivering a mascot that embodies everything it represents.

"All of us at nerv are genuinely excited by the opportunity to bring the character to life and introduce it to children of all ages right across the Commonwealth."

The mascot will be a significant personality in the run up to and during the Games, used by Glasgow 2014 to welcome visitors and spectators, visit schools and community events and appear on signage and merchandise.

The mascot competition ran from October 27 to December 2 last year, while it was promoted widely across several platforms including popular BBC children's programme Blue Peter.

The judging panel was made up of BBC and Glasgow 2014 staff and external experts and the final decision was made by Glasgow 2014 chairman Lord Smith and director of BBC Scotland Ken MacQuarrie.

The winner of the competition will receive four VIP tickets to the Glasgow 2014 Opening Ceremony.

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