Buddy the Bear
Mascot redesign and character illustration for Prisma Health Children’s Hospital, updating Buddy the Bear without losing the character families already knew.
Bear Hugs Bring Big Smiles
Prisma Health Children’s Hospital has used Buddy the Bear since 1986, making him a familiar presence for generations of patients, families, and staff. When Greenville Health System and Palmetto Health merged under the new Prisma Health brand, Buddy needed to evolve with it—but replacing a character with that much history wasn’t really an option.
I was brought in to refine Buddy’s design and create a cleaner, more flexible illustration style that still felt like the bear people already knew. I developed an expanded library of poses and character artwork for marketing, signage, educational materials, and environments, giving Prisma a refreshed Buddy that could keep working across the new brand.
CLIENT
Prisma Health Children’s Hospital
STUDIO
Weirdo Works
BRANDING PARTNER
Monigle
YEAR
2020
MY ROLE
Mascot Redesign, Character Illustration
DELIVERABLES
Character Design, Pose Library, Educational Illustrations, Marketing & Environmental Artwork
RESULTS
Refreshed a mascot in continuous use since 1986
Rebuilt the full back catalog of spot illustrations in the new style
Updated Buddy rolled out across hospital materials, signage, and The Children’s Museum of the Upstate exhibit
Making Over a Mascot Design
Buddy the Bear
Buddy had been part of the Children’s Hospital since 1986, appearing in person and throughout the hospital in illustrations, exhibits, signage, and printed materials. That history meant the redesign couldn’t simply chase the new Prisma Health visual identity and forget what came before.
Early explorations pushed Buddy toward a more simplified, contemporary style, but the familiar character traits kept pulling the work back toward his roots. My approach was to clean up the drawing, strengthen the shapes, and make him easier to reproduce while keeping the warmth and personality people already associated with him.
Museum Exhibits New Mascot Design
Buddy on Parade
The refreshed Buddy found a natural home in Prisma Health Children’s Hospital’s exhibit at The Children’s Museum of the Upstate. The 1,600-square-foot space introduces children to healthcare through interactive play, with Buddy appearing throughout the environment as a familiar guide.
Seeing the character at that scale was a good test of the redesign. He had to work as more than a small marketing illustration—Buddy needed to stay readable, welcoming, and recognizable when expanded into murals and educational displays.
Using Art to Inspire Children
Buddy’s Got Your Back
Buddy’s job goes beyond representing the hospital. His illustrations often put him into situations a child might encounter themselves, from visiting a doctor to learning about swimming safety or taking part in community activities.
That made costume, pose, and expression part of the character system. Buddy needed enough flexibility to step into dozens of different roles while still looking unmistakably like the same bear. The friendly expression and open body language stayed consistent even as everything around him changed.
Art Style Exploration Goes Full-Circle
New Look, Same Buddy
One of the more interesting parts of the redesign was realizing that “new” didn’t necessarily mean pushing Buddy farther away from his past. The more we explored simplified contemporary versions, the clearer it became that people were attached to the character they already knew.
The final direction came full circle: cleaner lines, bolder shapes, and brighter color, but with the recognizable proportions, expression, and personality of the original intact. The goal wasn’t to reinvent Buddy. It was to make the existing character work better for the brand he was moving into.
Made-to-Order Mascot Illustration
A Buddy for Every Occasion
Over the years, the hospital had accumulated Buddy illustrations for almost every situation imaginable. The next challenge was bringing that large collection into the refreshed style rather than ending up with decades of mismatched versions of the character.
I recreated existing poses and expanded the library with new ones, building a more consistent system the marketing team could draw from for signage, promotions, events, and educational materials. That gave Buddy room to keep evolving without having to redesign him every time a new need came up.