25 Days of Space Pigeons
A ode to our iconic mascot to celebrate 2019—a cosmic year for Coalesce.
What better way to count down this year’s Coalesce milestones (and all those equally-as-important mile pebbles) than by letting Eleanor, our space pigeon mascot, illustrate each one?
We’ll be releasing 25 days of space pigeons starting December 1, 2019. You can find them here on our Medium blog, on our Instagram: @coalescenyc or our Twitter: @thisiscoalesce. Most all of the pigeons will be designed using a different method and medium.
Why the space pigeon? In short, the pigeon is a greatly misunderstood New York Icon — they are smart, resilient, and very underestimated. They are our persistent and resourceful neighbors, and as a curious space traveler, Eleanor is one step ahead of the flock.
You can read more about our hunt for a mascot during our rebrand two years ago here: What’s a Space Pigeon, Anyway?
DAY 1: Calendar Space Pigeon
Eleanor kicks off the countdown.
Medium: Fully hand-drawn with fine-tip marker on paper colored in Photoshop.
DAY 2: Space Pigeon on the Move
We packed our bags and bird feed and moved the HQ to Chinatown this year. Come visit us at 49 Elizabeth. We’ve got some spectacular sunset views and a snack shelf that will get us through a nuclear winter.
Medium: Collage art utilizing scanned cardboard pieces and ink.
DAY 3: Space Pigeon Flies North
Our team has been back and forth to Toronto this year more than any other city (even Nashville!) for a fun client project with our Canadian comrades.
Medium: Sharpie on paper, vectorized, then colored in Illustrator.
DAY 4: Space Pigeon Delivers the News
Extra, extra! Eleanor proudly wears her reporter cap in tribute to the launch of the sleek new site we designed and launched for a financial news client this year.
Medium: Soft pencil on paper colored with watercolor brush in Photoshop.
DAY 5: Brand Brainstorm Pigeon
Our design team developed several full brand kits this year that included original names, logos, and visual languages. Two of the brands actually make umbrellas (rain and beach), but Eleanor is still waiting on feedback about her helmet shade concept.
Medium: Crayon on paper.
DAY 6: Space Pigeon Tattoo
In celebration of last night’s Coalesce holiday party, today we’re honoring the VERY REAL tattoos our guests received at the event (our treat!). Eleanor wasn’t the only thing on the menu. One very brave guest even got the portrait of our co-founder inked on his shoulder. We’re honored (I think).
Medium: Tattoo ink on skin.
DAY 7: Whiskey Space Pigeon.
Today’s pigeon is a toast to our co-founder on his birthday. Thanks for another year of keeping Eleanor’s drink cabinet stocked with the finest rye.
Medium: Texture created with charcoal pencil paired with vector shapes created in Illustrator.
Day 8: Java Pigeon.
Iced black, almond latte, Americano, two drip with cream. Coffee makes our week go ‘round.
Medium: Fine tip marker and coffee stains plus color in Photoshop.
Day 9: Pigeons on Product Council
In addition to relaunching our event series this year, we also designed a new visual language and logo for the brand. Product Council is our quarterly event series for designers, developers, and entrepreneurs to explore creative and critical thinking behind product design. It’ll be back for 2020 and we hope to see you there.
Medium: Calligraphy pen on paper and Photoshop elements.
DAY 10: Real Estate Pigeon
If you’re in the market for a slice of space, Eleanor has all the intel for buying and selling your plots. 2019 marks five years of Coalesce working as the product partner for one of the leading real estate news publishers in the galaxy.
Medium: Soft chisel marker with Photoshop editing.
DAY 11: Parchment Pigeon.
In honor of the enterprise resource software we’ve been building this year for a paper manufacturer, here is an Eleanor that’s ready for all your holiday baking needs.
Medium: Scanned Parchment paper colored in photoshop
DAY 12: Snow Globe Space Pigeon
Eleanor dreams of stardust. Today’s contribution represents our never-ending quest for making and creating new and exciting products, no matter the constraints.
Medium: Fine tip marker on paper.
DAY 13: Plant Pigeon
We work best when surrounded by greenery. We’ve been slowly building out our urban jungle thanks to our plant people at Horti and their tireless efforts to find varieties suited to our sporadic watering schedules.
Medium: Pen on paper colored in Photoshop.
Day 14: Ultra Marathon Pigeon
Sometimes our team members like to run really really long races through the woods. We don’t understand it. But we support it.
Medium: Fine tip marker, with vector shapes and airbrush in Photoshop.
Day 15: Karaoke Space Pigeons
This is our form of Coalesce caroling. (And we don’t just do it at the holidays.)
Medium: Digitally painted in Photoshop.
DAY 16: Chatbot Pigeon
Eleanor loves interacting with her bank’s chatbot. Little does she know that we helped update the UX of a popular chatbot CMS this year — making it even easier for banks to populate their bots with accurate info.
Medium: Crayola Markers.
DAY 17: Studious Space Pigeon
We’re proud product partners for the industry’s leading FINRA training company. We are always helping them update and maintain their suite of products—from the e-commerce site we created to their robust student training center to their flashcard app. But even with all the cool resources, Eleanor still prefers the book (which we didn’t write — but we did design the cover.)
Medium: Vector illustration.
DAY 18: Ullr Pigeon
Our annual Ullr Fest winter trip is welcomes all kinds of snow birds and bunnies. It is named after the Norse God Ullr, who some consider to be the patron saint of skiers.
Medium: Distressed vector illustration.
Day 19: Good Folk Space Pigeon
Today’s space pigeon jams with the unofficial mascot of Good Folk Music Management—a Nashville-based business Coalesce helped start in 2018. Good Folk uses best practices and emerging technology to help songwriters, producers, and engineers manage their businesses so they can focus more on making their music. Here’s a deeper look at why we got into the music business to begin with.
Medium: Marker drawing blended with Photoshop illustration
Day 20: Bruvay Space Pigeon
An ode to all the big and small ideas and ponderings we’ve posted on our blog, Thought Shots (including our thesis on “Bruvay”).
Medium: Photography
Day 21: Surfing Pigeon
Today’s pigeon celebrates our co-founder’s birthday. Thanks for helping us catch the wave.
Medium: Fine tip marker, colored in Illustrator.
Day 22: Hanukkah Space Pigeon
Menorah on the moon is Eleanor’s favorite miracle.
Medium: Fine tip marker.
Day 23: Original Eleanor
This is our very first space pigeon. She’s almost two years old now and we would certainly be amiss if we didn’t include her in the roundup.
Medium: Pencil drawing colored in Photoshop.
Day 24: Ugly Sweater Space Pigeon
An outdated garment? A cross stitch masterpiece? An ironic statement on consumerism? Whichever way you wear the holidays, we hope it’s complicated, layered, and very jolly.
Medium: Pixel drawing in Photoshop.
Day 25: Fireside Space Pigeon.
Happiest of holidays to you and your whole flock.
Medium: Digital painting in Photoshop
