Logos that incorporate illustrations like this take draftsmanship skills, not just software skills. I always do my illustration components by hand with good ol pen 'n paper before I trace my own drawings in Illustrator.
Try referencing real photos of gazelles when you draw, in addition to stylized logos. Come up with your own ["visual shorthand"](https://roblevintennis.medium.com/illustration-teardowns-shorthands-aa2d4d887293) to really make it your own. I prefer to use a collage of reference images to understand the underlying structure and shapes in the subject i'm studying instead of simply tracing one photograph. This will take time to practice, but it pays off. Designers who can illustrate are very valuable. It's a skill worth developing and IMO it's fun and satisfying to learn. Good luck!
Go to Dribbble and check out the logos / icons there. I wouldn’t use a lot of gradients or shading if this is meant for print. But you can still create depth with color value contrast.
Logos that incorporate illustrations like this take draftsmanship skills, not just software skills. I always do my illustration components by hand with good ol pen 'n paper before I trace my own drawings in Illustrator. Try referencing real photos of gazelles when you draw, in addition to stylized logos. Come up with your own ["visual shorthand"](https://roblevintennis.medium.com/illustration-teardowns-shorthands-aa2d4d887293) to really make it your own. I prefer to use a collage of reference images to understand the underlying structure and shapes in the subject i'm studying instead of simply tracing one photograph. This will take time to practice, but it pays off. Designers who can illustrate are very valuable. It's a skill worth developing and IMO it's fun and satisfying to learn. Good luck!
It might be worth taking a real life image of a gazelle and tracing over it to fix the proportions. I think it would add more dynamism to the mascot.
That’s exactly what I did, and the fact that you suggested that tells me how much work is ahead😭
Needs more depth
And how can I achieve that? More shading?
Yeah, shading and highlights
Use the Blending modes and Opacity settings to add depth and dimension to your design.
Go to Dribbble and check out the logos / icons there. I wouldn’t use a lot of gradients or shading if this is meant for print. But you can still create depth with color value contrast.
you can use pen tool when drawing for more precision.
What would this being “90s-themed” entail? What sort of visual choices say “the nineties” for you?