This piece was a college assignment to create a mascot for a brand that did not
previously have one. I chose to work with Hot Topic, taking inspiration from their
skater-punk pop-culture aesthetic, and referencing elements from the various stores
I have been in over the years.

I knew I wanted to create a humanoid character, as Hot Topic is primarily a clothing store. As I wanted the character to be able to model all of Hot Topic’s clothing line regardless
of gender, I intentionally made the figure androgynous and faceless, providing just
a bit of that punk-rock edge with their sharp grin.

The linework is done with a pencil-brush to exploit the informal aspects of the brand,
while the lines remain sharp and pointed in homage to the ‘edgy’ vibe of Hot Topic.
The fire aesthetic spawned from a tile mural of a flaming heart I recall from the floor
of an old Hot Topic I’ve been in a few times. 

It also makes for an excellent pun on Hot Topic.