Project Snapshot
Year: 2023
Role: 3D Artist · Character Designer · System Designer · Motion Exploration
Tools: 3ds Max, Photoshop, After Effects
Project Type: In-App Character System (Concept)
Overview
Feature Bot was designed as a modular in-app assistant character intended for use across a mobile product ecosystem. The goal was to create a visually engaging, brand-appropriate character system that could communicate state changes, guide user interactions, and express personality.
The work includes 3D character design, system variations, UI iconography, motion prototypes, and brand-focused lighting treatment.
Objectives
- Develop a clean, readable character silhouette suitable for small-screen UI
- Create modular head/body variations for different states or functions
- Build an approachable, memorable personality through form language
- Deliver multiple static and animated assets for UI and in-app usage
- Explore motion cues that communicate “life” within mobile performance constraints
Design Approach
1. Visual Identity & Form Language
The character was designed around a simple, circular geometry that conveys friendliness, stability, and clarity at small sizes. Key design considerations included:
- Strong silhouette readability even at 50–80px
- Clean surfaces to avoid visual noise in UI
- Expressive “eye” displays suggesting intelligence and state changes
- Mechanical details used sparingly to maintain charm, not intimidation
The result is a character that feels tech-forward but still approachable.
2. UI Integration — Iconography & Micro-States
To support different user states or app functions, three head variations were created, each designed for:
- Clarity in circular UI frames
- Compatibility with a shared lighting and shading language
- Recognizability at very small scales
- Flexible use across menus, notifications, or status indicators
These variations help establish a character “system,” not just a single asset.
3. Animation Exploration: Personality Through Motion
To give the character a sense of presence, lightweight motion tests were created, including:
- A subtle floating hover loop
- A soft blue thrust/exhaust effect inspired by classic retro-futuristic technology
- Antenna motion responding to head tilts
- Eye blinking and gaze shifts for added personality
These motions were intentionally low-complexity, aligning with mobile engine constraints while still delivering charm and responsiveness.
4. Expressive Head Animation Study
A short character animation was created to illustrate how the bot might behave with full motion capabilities:
- Head rotation following a point of interest
- Antenna motion synchronized with directional changes
- Blinking and eye expression for reactive feedback
- Lighting passes designed to support both still and motion contexts
While intended for mobile, the animation demonstrates how the bot could scale into richer interactions for higher-powered platforms.
Outcome
Feature Bot serves as a unified character and UI system designed for use across a mobile product environment. This character was utilized for a game product that was published in the U.S. and Mexico markets. The project demonstrates:
- Full character development from concept → 3D → motion
- Modular asset creation for UI states
- The ability to deliver personality within strict mobile constraints
- Polished rendering and lighting suitable for brand identity
- Exploration of motion language for in-app assistants
Tools & Techniques
- 3ds Max — Character modeling, rigging, lighting, rendering
- Photoshop — Concepts, paintovers, texture refinement, UI iconography
- After Effects — Animation testing, FX for hover/lighting loops
- Motion Exploration — Antenna reactive motion, blinking states, thrust animation
