Hot Dog Caper

Overview

Hot Dog Caper is a beloved Cal Poly Pomona event that gives out free hot dogs, snacks, drinks, and popsicles to the community. The event has been celebrating the beginning of the fall semester for 33 years, each year with a new theme selected by student survey. As is tradition, the theme is translated into a hot dog character who ultimately becomes the core of the event's identity. 

Multiple concepts were developed and refined through feedback from marketing and executive teams. For this year’s fantasy theme, I developed a hot dog king surrounded by storybook imagery, using blackletter typography to reference medieval manuscripts and storybooks. The core illustration, typography, and a distinctive scroll-shaped graphic element formed a flexible visual system that could be reproduced at different scales and across applications.

Deliverables

Event Identity
Character Illustration
Branded Event Collateral
Social Media and Digital Assets
Large Format Print Production
Banners and Posters

Process

Sketch of a fantasy scene with a dragon and a knight. The dragon is riding a horse and has wings, a crown, and a spear. The knight is holding a shield and appears to be in motion. Several handwritten notes and annotations are present around the drawing, including tips for editing and designing the scene.
Line drawing of a unicorn with a flowing mane, a wizard wearing a hat and cloak stirring a large cauldron, and a jester's hat with bells hanging from its points.
Sample text showing different fonts of the phrase "Hot Dog Caper" repeated several times, with one version at the bottom within a decorative border.
Digital illustration of a knight and a dragon flying against a dark night sky, with a castle below. The scene is displayed on a smartphone and two printed cards, all showing the same image.
Digital illustration of a knight and a dragon flying against a dark night sky, with a castle below. The scene is displayed on a smartphone and two printed cards, all showing the same image.
Event sign for the 2nd Annual Hot Dog Caper on October 9th from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at Bronco Commons, featuring a cartoon hot dog character riding a dragon.
A navy blue T-shirt with white print celebrating Cal Poly Pomona's 75th Annual Hot Dog Caper event, featuring a dragon cartoon mascot and the logo of Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises.
An outdoor stage setup with a white canopy tent displaying 'Hot Dog Caper, 42nd Annual,' with sound equipment and banners, and trees and a building in the background.
A crowded outdoor event with numerous people, several tents labeled 'Condiments,' colorful pennant banners overhead, and balloons, with trees and a building in the background.
A outdoor event with multiple tents and gathering of people, some of whom are standing and sitting near tables. One prominent tent displays the logo and name of 'Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises' and 'CPP Dining Services'. There are trees and a building in the background, and a person is holding a taco in the foreground.
A woman wearing glasses, a brown cap, and a plastic apron is serving hot dogs at an outdoor event. She is handing a hot dog to a person in a brown jacket and blue glove. Several hot dogs are on trays in front of her, and there are other people and stalls in the background.

This project was awarded a Gold MarCom award in the branded event category by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. Thank you to my team; the marketing department of Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises, whose collective efforts made this event successful.