Snoopy: Lasting Character Design

Design, whether in art or engineering, evolves alongside the story it tells. One of the best examples of this is Snoopy, the iconic beagle from Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts comics. 75 years ago, Schulz released his first Charlie Brown comic strip under the name Peanuts. The comic ran for 50 years, introducing beloved characters such as Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, and,  my favorite, Snoopy [1]. What’s not to love about Snoopy? He’s sarcastic, imaginative, and cool. 

Half of the time, he’s given his own storyline, writing novels or flying airplanes, while Charlie Brown contemplates loneliness and feeling out of place. Snoopy’s design has changed over the years, creating a fully formed character whose personality withstands art styles yet still communicates the personality and charm that made him an icon of the Peanuts universe.

Figure 1: A classic sketch of Snoopy [2].

Charles M. Schulz once said that Snoopy was the character who had changed the most over the course of the series [3]. Snoopy had originally been drawn and characterized as a simple puppy who walked on all fours as a typical ‘man’s best friend.’ But over the years, he developed into standing on two paws and having an entirely new and humanlike personality. Snoopy went ice skating, wrote novels, went to school, and even piloted a World War I fighter plane from the top of his doghouse. His design evolved alongside his character, showing how visuals and storytelling can create something memorable.

Figure 2: Snoopy through the decades [4].

This more complex version of Snoopy is what we immediately picture today. In fact, this version of Snoopy has been featured in video games, on international postage stamps, and has even been to space multiple times (more than me, but hey who’s counting). During the Vietnam War, Snoopy became a symbol of bravery for soldiers who saw him as a fellow aircraft pilot [5]. A large amount of his appeal stems from his simple and recognizable design.

So, what can we learn from Snoopy’s design? As our designs change, their stories should evolve too. If a product is meant to be an upgrade, it should reflect that new innovation taking into account the original design content. As a product introduces new features, the design should reflect that. Snoopy teaches that a design doesn’t have to be stagnant and that as an idea grows, its design can too. A design that adapts, like Snoopy, becomes timeless and continues to inspire others long after their initial appearances.

References

[1] "How Charles M Schulz created Charlie Brown and Snoopy." BBC Culture, 5 Dec. 2024, https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20241205-how-charles-m-schulz-created-charlie-brown-and-snoopy.

[2] . Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Nov. 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snoopy.

[3] "Celebrating Peanuts Online." Charles M. Schulz Museum, 2025, https://schulzmuseum.org/celebrating-peanuts-online/.

[4] "A Brief History of Snoopy." Snoopy Fun Fun Garden, http://www.snoopyfunfungarden.com/Emobile/Page/story/id/4.html.

[5] Hughes, Catharine. "How Charlie Brown captured the American psyche: Charles Schulz's beloved Peanuts series was more than just a comic strip--it was America's conscience." New Statesman, vol. 153, no. 5834, 3 Oct. 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A860976553/ITOF?u=byuprovo&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=0cf630cf. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.

To cite this article:
Emelia, Sunday. “Snoopy: Lasting Character Design.” The BYU Design Review, 10 November 2025, https://www.designreview.byu.edu/collections/snoopy-lasting-character-design.