Outside of a superhero/"chosen one" or team/organization theme, I do not create my characters with that intention. If I make a character who is a schoolgirl with a kitten backpack, I do not intend the backpack to somehow "represent" her, but naturally if the object is unique to her, the natural human tendency to label, sort, and categorize may have others refer to her by that unique thing, and therefore somehow represent my character.
I'm indifferent to the concept altogether.