The etymology of Julia is something like “soft hair” so a feathery creature would not quite fit by this criterion…
I do like the dragonfly idea.
2 Likes
In view of Julia’s emphasis on speed, two more animals come to mind with cheetah being taken: Pronghorn Antelope (second fastest land animal) and Orca (killer whale), one of the fastest creatures in the sea. Also the ultimate speed demons - Peregrine Falcon or Golden Eagle seem appropriate.
2 Likes
I like the dragonfly idea too. I don’t think of julia as being a big and unwieldy beast but rather as being fast, efficient and precise. I also like the way the structures on the wings invoke ideas of math and structure.
10 Likes
The Mantis shrimp is slow to get going but packs a punch. Most importantly, it has weirdly excellent colour support…
7 Likes
That does solve the “Two Mythical Horses Problem”.
18 Likes
Another selling point for the Julia skimmer dragonfly is that when people ask where the name comes from we can tell them it comes from the dragonfly and perhaps even make up some zany story about how the creation of Julia is related to dragonflies. 
9 Likes
Note the 3 dots that surround the “+” cursor in this picture: The 3 Julia dots! Isn’t that cool?
I can see how it might be possible to draw a stylized dragonfly with those Julia dots on its back.
5 Likes
12 Likes
The Julyax is simply awesome, but the dragon fly is the most realistic proposal I have seens so far. It’s easier to make as a simplified logo and a lot of people have reacted positively to it as well so far.
Maybe the dragon fly could be nicknamed Julyax.
2 Likes
I like this, but I think it’s important to get the proportions correct. To me the most beautiful thing about this animal is how beautifully elongated it is. The way the wings are so far forward make it look unbalanced and almost unnatural, yet presumably the shape is honed by millions of years of evolution. I love things in nature that defy “common sense” [insert Einstein quote here].
1 Like
No, Juliax is Julyax and far nicer than any other proposals (IMO off course)
1 Like
- Retcon language’s name to refer to Julia skimmer mascot
- Name mascot “Julyax” after mythical mythical creature
- ??
- Profit
I’ll volunteer to sketch up some ideas for dragonfly vector art, but I’m defending my dissertation Friday so it’ll probably have to wait till next week 
2 Likes
I do also really like the hummingbird. It has the right feel – fast, friendly, colorful and cute.
10 Likes
The mascot shoudl be a cuddly animal… remember that Linux began the Linux project as a vehicle for selling millions of plush Tux mascots. He gets a royalty from every one (*)
Consideration should be given to a mascot’s suitability for stickers and plush toys.
(*) Obv disclaimer - no he doesn’t
2 Likes
+1 for hummingbird for exactly these reasons. If any artists want inspiration, check out how Disney stylized hummingbirds in 1947. They reappear a few minutes later but get interrupted … 
BTW, if there are any Swedes here who think they know this cartoon by heart (Swedish television has broadcast it on Christmas Eve every year since 1960), check out the surprise coda in the uncensored version!
1 Like
I’m wondering whether there’s a cute Julia set that could be worked into the logo. There are so many pretty looking shapes available out there, that one might be worked into the cuddly animal.
BTW, I find the Juliax cutest.
Through the absolute weirdest coincidence, earlier today, while googling for something Julia lang, Google brought some results about a Julia butterfly! That was surprising. But then I see this thread! It’s gotta be destiny!!!1!!
Anyway, the butterfly is quite pretty and we could easily put the dots on the wings.
If you google “Julia butterfly” beware, there’s also a lady called exactly that - she lives in a tree or something, a bit of a looney internet celebrity. Better to use this link if you want to read about it (about the butterfly, not the lady, I wouldn’t want the lady as our mascot):
https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Dryas-iulia
The actual name of the butterfly is Julia Heliconian or Dryas iulia
8 Likes