http://blog.mailchimp.com/new-mailchimp-logo-by-jon-hicks/
This is quite a few years old, but I still like it, and is a rare example of the thought process behind the redesign of a logo/mascot. It shows how a basic design consisting of a few simple shapes is transformed into a fully fleshed-out character in a logical and considered way.
As an addendum, I’d like to point out that the logo has been developed further since that post (2008) but it has stuck to the style of the last incarnation, with perhaps an influence from the original version of the logo.
Very nice, mailchimp are pretty much up there for mailing list organisations nowadays aren’t they? It is very vector art, and liking good to know that people can still draw using pencils these days… as I for one, cannot.
I’ve not used them but I imagine it’s a friendlier ‘iContact’! Can’t remember last time I picked up a pencil and actually drew something… well, not of a layout anyway.
I do really enjoy seeing a logo being done and developed by pencil. David Airey has a lot of good devlopment sheets on his website, might be worth a look for you guys. Me personally, still start off most briefs with a pen, if anything it means i can continually shop for nice moleskines!