Meet Cincinnati’s Crown Jewel

Cincinnati loves their hippos, an attraction that has garnered worldwide attention! And no hippo is quite as famous as Fiona.

Fiona merchandise sells like hotcakes, from stuffed animals and shirts to books and pins! What if we could expand their selection into a new market?

Create a mask for children with adjustable straps for a perfect fit.

easy to construct with interlocking tabs and step by step instructions

Created with recyclable materials to follow zoo’s sustainability goals

Building Reference

Capturing the Essence

3D Sketchwork

Pieces can be mixed and matched to figure out what combination of features achieves the strongest result.

Version 1: Proof of Concept, lacks visual identity

Prototype Work

Version 2: Refined techniques building into the 3D, lacks an emotional appeal

Version 3: Final tape model. Jaw and bottom teeth adjustments, stronger stability but loses some identity

Version 4: Pieces are tabbed together. Eyeholes move from nostrils to maw, features become more exaggerated

Version 5: Reduction of pieces, more advanced techniques to create the final form

Assembly Line

Finished prototype pieces are photographed and brought into Illustrator for refinement and to the CNC knife table for machine cutting

Cutting Edge Technology

7x11’ Instructions were created in Illustrator for the consumer’s ease of use and a design focused on breaking down the mask’s complex forms

Final Mask

Now available in color!