MESSENGER KIDS

Messenger Kids is a messaging and video chat app designed for kids 6-12 to connect with their friends and family through creative expression, play, and communication in a safe environment.

In 2021, Messenger Kids rebranded with a new “Recess” illustration system that communicates the app’s possibilities and features to kids in a fun, inspiring, and easy-to-understand way.

I contributed to the design and conception of our new brand voice working alongside our product creative team. In my role as Brand Designer, I focused on creating assets across marketing channels, and developed new animations and illustrations used within the app.

BRANDED STICKERS

We designed an evergreen collection of stickers for chats within the app. I focused on defining the look of these emotive stickers teaming up with BUCK who created the final animations.

CHARACTERS

Designing brand characters, is a wonderful challenge. They must be authentic to the voice of the brand, and elevate the personality and approachability of the product. I had a lot of fun working with Messenger Kids, exploring different opportunities to bring characters to life inside and outside of the app.

During one of our design sprints, I led the efforts to design a new set of branded characters to match the rebrand.

Meet “Delightful Dwight” and his Message Monster pals! He’s always ready to play, helping kids with any questions they might have about how to use features on the app.

I used Messenger Kids’ playful neon color gradients to connect the brand to the new character designs.

BRAND CHARACTER EXPLORATION

When I got the chance to brainstorm and pitch different designs for the Messenger Kids rebrand, we tried multiple styles and treatments for branded characters. Here are a few of my favorites! Although they didn’t make it to the app, it was a fun part of the path to get to our final designs.

PLEDGE PLANETS

In this epic interactive series on Messenger Kids, I worked on creating concept art, comics, and illustrations that brought our characters to life. “Pledge Planets” kids about virtual safety through 4 episodes of educational games all set in space! Learn more in this Messenger News article.

Kids learn how to be “Kind” at Doughboy’s Sandwich shop.

All the virtual pets are here to be “kind, respectful, safe, and have fun” in the Pledge Planet universe!

I created the “Pledge Planets” highlight reel for Messenger Kids marketing channels.

Credits:

Creative Directors: Sean Dougherty, Mauro Gatti, and Shiu Pei Luu

Art Directors: Jennifer Talesfore, Matt Harrison, Goose Manriquez

Producers: Robin Quick, Michelle Sacks

Brand Designer Co: Yoojin Seol

Special thanks to the Messenger Kids Product Creative Team.