Bumpa.

Overview

A CHARACTER THAT WORKS

Illustration Character Design UX Design Brand Mascot

For Bumpa, I created an original robotic mascot and developed it into a four-state character system — each state aligned to a specific product moment in the merchant's journey.

The character wasn't designed to be decorative. It was designed to function as a feedback layer — one that made the platform feel more supportive, human, and confidence-building at the exact moments merchants needed it most.

By aligning each expression with key product states, the mascot became a silent guide that communicated tone and direction without a single line of copy changing.

Bumpa — Interaction between man and machine

The goal of the project — a synergistic interaction between man and machine

The character became a feedback layer that made the platform feel more supportive, human, and confidence-building.

Character Design

THE MASCOT

Full character sheet — the mascot in all its expressions and construction

The System

FOUR STATES. ONE CHARACTER.

Each state was designed to appear at a specific product moment — not randomly, but with intention. The expressions were built to reduce friction, reward progress, and keep merchants moving forward.

Scroll to see all states

NEUTRAL

Default Brand Presence

The resting state. Calm, composed, present. Used when the platform is idle or during general navigation — establishing the mascot as a steady brand constant that merchants grow familiar with over time.

ASSISTED

Onboarding · Tips

Appears during onboarding flows and contextual tips. The character is attentive and forward-leaning — communicating that help is present and the merchant is not navigating alone.

EXCITED

Progress · Celebration

Triggered by milestone moments — a completed sale, a finished setup, a goal reached. The character celebrates with the merchant, making progress feel acknowledged and genuinely earned.

ERROR

Recoverable Friction Moments

Designed specifically for recoverable errors. The character reads as momentarily stuck, not defeated. The visual tone communicates clearly: this is fixable, and I am still here with you.

Use Cases

THE STATES IN CONTEXT

State 01

NEUTRAL STATE

The default presence of the mascot across the platform — calm, consistent, and familiar. Present without demanding attention.

Full spread — neutral state and its use cases across the product

State 02

EXCITED STATE

The celebration layer — activated at milestone moments to acknowledge the merchant's progress and make success feel personal.

Full spread — excited state and its use cases across the product

State 03

ERROR STATE

The recovery layer — designed to soften friction without hiding it, keeping merchants confident that errors are temporary and solvable.

Full spread — error state and its use cases across the product

State 04

ASSISTED STATE

The guidance layer — present during onboarding and contextual tips, signalling that the platform is attentive and the merchant is supported.

Full spread — assisted state and its use cases across the product

Design Thinking

WHY THIS WORKS

FUNCTIONAL ILLUSTRATION

Each state is tied to a real product moment. The character is not decoration — it is part of the platform's communication layer, designed to reduce friction and build confidence at every touchpoint.

EMOTIONAL ALIGNMENT

By matching the character's expression to the merchant's emotional state — stuck, uncertain, victorious — the platform acknowledges how the user feels rather than ignoring it.

BRAND CONSISTENCY

A single character across all states creates visual consistency. Merchants encounter the same face throughout their journey, building the kind of familiarity that trust is made from.

The Result

ILLUSTRATION AS PRODUCT DESIGN

The four-state character system demonstrates that illustration can carry functional weight — not just aesthetic value. When a visual element is designed with product logic in mind, it becomes part of the experience rather than an addition to it.

For Bumpa's merchants, the mascot is the face they see when they're learning, when they're stuck, and when they succeed. That consistency builds a relationship — and that relationship builds confidence in the platform.