We love a good mascot moment. Nothing gets a community talking like deciding whether you’ll be the Tigers, the Titans, or the Fighting Narwhals (hey, we can dream).

So when we saw that Carter County is letting the community vote on the mascot for their brand-new high school (check out the full story here), we couldn’t help but get excited. Not just because we love school pride (though we really do), but because this is the perfect reminder:

➡️ Your school’s mascot isn’t just a costume or a logo slapped on a T-shirt.
➡️ It’s the cornerstone of your school’s brand—and how you handle it matters.

And trust us, there’s a BIG difference between voting on a mascot and actually building out a cohesive, professional brand around it. That’s where a little thing we like to call the foundation comes in.

mascots get headlines. branding keeps the story going.

Here’s the thing: Carter County’s mascot vote? That’s a huge step in building community engagement and excitement. But after the votes are counted and the mascot is official, then what?

How do you make sure:
✔️ That shiny new mascot doesn’t show up pixelated and blurry at half your schools?
✔️ Every social media post, sports banner, T-shirt, and website actually looks like they’re part of the same district family?
✔️ You don’t have 37 versions of the same logo floating around your Google Drive? (Spoiler alert: we’ve seen it happen.)

That’s why the foundation isn’t just about “branding” in the traditional sense—it’s about giving your district the tools to actually use your mascot, logo, and identity with confidence and consistency.

what does  the foundation actually do?

Glad you asked. Here’s how we help schools go from mascot vote → branding powerhouse:
🎨 Vectorize the mascot + logos so they’re crisp, clean, and usable anywhere (no more fuzzy, weirdly stretched graphics).
🎯 Provide multiple logo variations—horizontal, stacked, icon-only, you name it—so you’ve got the perfect version for every use.
📂 Organize everything into a branding system that’s actually easy to access (because digging through old email chains for “the right file” is no one's idea of fun). Check out The Design Lab Advantage!
💡 And if a district’s current branding needs a full refresh, we can design a custom logo or mascot system from scratch, just like we did for Shelby County Public Schools.

TL;DR: We turn your mascot from a one-time headline into a long-term win.

why it’s worth it (even if you love your current logo)

You might be thinking, “Our schools already love their mascot. Do we really need the foundation?”

Answer: Yes. 100%. Still worth it.

the foundation doesn’t force you into a rebrand—it helps you protect and use the brand you already have. Whether you want to polish up what’s in place or start fresh, we make sure you can roll out your district’s identity across every school, every department, every platform.

Because what’s the point of winning the mascot vote if no one can use the mascot properly?

want more branding wins?

If you’re curious how branding cleanup makes everything easier, check out:

📌 Let’s Talk Logos — where we break down why logos & branding systems matter

📌 Beyond the Logo — we chat about how great branding builds trust

ready to get your mascot (and brand) in order?

Whether you’ve got a brand-new mascot or a tried-and-true one, we’re here to help you clean it up, organize it, and make it shine.

📍 Let’s get started—The Foundation is ready when you are. 💬 Let’s talk.