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Character design
2024
Pocket Pals
A family of tiny mascots for a kids learning app, from first sketch to app icon.
Role
Character design
Timeline
6 weeks
Client
Pocket Pals app
Year
2024
the challenge
Small, round and very kind
Pocket Pals teaches maths to six year olds. The team wanted characters that cheer kids on without ever feeling like a teacher.
We landed on eight round friends, each with one strong colour and one silly habit, so kids can tell them apart at icon size.
my approach
From doodle to app icon
We tested the characters as stickers, mugs and tiny app icons before any animation, because a mascot that fails at sixteen pixels fails everywhere.
The final kit includes turnarounds, expressions and a short guide for the app team.
the results
characters in the family
8
longer play sessions
+30%
Client said
Our users now ask for the characters by name.
