The Feathered Fraud – An April Fool’s to Remember
Client: Scarborough College
Project: The Feathered Fraud
Date: April 1st
The Challenge – A Mischievous Mission
When Scarborough College’s Remco and Kate approached us with what they dubbed the ‘World’s Second Weirdest Brief’ (the first being a request from them to ‘make it more zombie’ a few years prior), we knew we were in for a treat. Their goal? To orchestrate a lighthearted April Fool’s prank that would cause a stir, spark conversation, and showcase the school’s playful spirit.
The concept was simple but brilliant: subtly alter the school crest by replacing the iconic owl with a puffin. The reasoning? A nod to the nearby puffin sanctuary and a fabricated rebrand to align with the local seabird population. It was the perfect blend of believable and absurd – just the right mix for a successful April Fool’s gag.
The Execution – Sneaky, Subtle, and Spectacular
Blumilk’s design team set to work, ensuring the new crest remained faithful to the original while sneaking in the unexpected avian intruder. The result? A polished, professional-looking school crest… with a distinctively beaky twist.
With the visuals locked in, it was time for Scarborough College to unleash the prank. Remco took to LinkedIn with an official-sounding announcement:
“I am absolutely delighted to announce the next bit of exciting news regarding Scarborough College. Following extensive market research and canvassing the opinions of current pupils and their families, the College deemed it appropriate to consider its school crest.”
“Native to Yorkshire, the puffin population, while not officially endangered, is in decline due to overfishing and pollution. By adding the puffin to the College crest, Scarborough College is hoping to raise awareness to the sea parrots’ plight.”
“The Scarborough Owl will adorn the crest until September 2025, after which work will commence on removing the owl from all building work, signage, headed paper, and marketing collateral.”
The Reaction – Ruffling Feathers and Raising Smiles
The post took off, with students, parents, alumni, and staff diving into the comments. Some were in on the joke immediately, while others debated the logistics of a full-scale rebrand. The mix of genuine engagement and lighthearted confusion made for a fantastic response, proving once again that a well-crafted April Fool’s prank can be a fun and effective piece of marketing.
The Takeaway – A Lesson in Playful Branding
The Feathered Fraud was a masterclass in clever, engaging communication. It reinforced Scarborough College’s community spirit, showcased their willingness to have fun, and provided an unforgettable talking point. At Blumilk, we love working with clients who embrace creativity – even when it involves a bit of good-natured trickery.
Here’s to more wonderfully weird briefs in the future! We love a challenge!
