Mascot Design -- need info

[pixelfiesta]

I am working on a educational fair on science and technology which involves kids. This is an annual events which has been happening from the last 10 years in India. To break the clutter and monotony, we are planning to introduce a mascot which kids (aged 9 to 15) can relate to.

Questions:
• Has anyone worked on creating Mascots — right from conceptualization to execution?
• What are the things one should keep in mind while doing something like this. Are there any specific problems one has faced?
• I would also like to know how to put together a good brief for the illustrator who is going to create the Mascot?
• Is there an online resource to learn about mascot and branding?
• Does anyone has examples to showcase?

Any kind of insights other than the above questions will be highly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[Ek Kanya]

you should first get a little low down on Mascots here:

MASCOTS