For Earth Month, DUG held a contest that invited the community to submit designs for our newest mascot, Duggie. Our broader community then voted on the final 3, and the winner was…
Duggie the worm, designed by local gardener, Sophia Bagi (@sophia_baguette).
We asked Sophia a few questions to dive a little deeper into her design process, inspiration, and hopes for the mascot.
This article has been edited for clarity and grammar.
Where did your inspiration for duggie come from?
The idea for my Denver Urban Gardens mascot came to me while I was actually spreading worm castings in my garden and realizing my appreciation for worms. They are secretly doing some of the most important work in the ecosystem, especially in our urban gardens, making soil. It felt only fair to give them a little spotlight.
The hat came next, mostly because it made me laugh. There is something about a worm in a hat that makes it so cute and sassy instead of some gross bug. It turns something people usually hate into a character you can relate to.
Lastly, (you don’t have to add this in any articles), the worm hat is also a reference to It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
why did you want to submit for the mascot contest?
I grew up in Boulder and now live in Denver, and I have a huge appreciation for what DUG does for our communities. This is really why I wanted to enter my mascot. I wanted to give back in a way I know how. I have worked with DUG before and genuinely love what they do, so being able to contribute to that creatively felt especially meaningful. As a freelance graphic designer and someone who genuinely loves gardening, this project felt like a natural intersection of those two things. It felt sort of serendipitous.
WHERE DO YOU HOPE TO SEE DUGGIE in the future?
I am really excited to see where Duggie grows from here. It feels like a character that could grow alongside the community, popping up in gardens, on signage, and in educational materials in ways that make people smile while also learning something new. If it helps even a few more people appreciate the role worms play or feel more connected to their local garden, then it is doing exactly what it was meant to do. I don’t know what the future holds for Duggie, but I am very excited to be a part of the journey!
