Copyright © moonhuilee 2026
Designing the Mascot for Zouba, a Travel App
Introduction
Zouba is a travel mobile app designed to help users explore cities, discover activities, and collect favorite places into their own curated lists. I was brought in to design the brand’s mascot and supporting illustration system to add warmth and delight across the product experience.
The Goal
The product team wanted the app to feel more emotionally engaging for a younger traveler audience. My objective was to create a cohesive mascot-led illustration set that would:
- Inject a sense of fun and friendliness into the product
- Support key in-app moments and communications
- Maintain visual simplicity aligned with brand constraints
My Role
I was engaged as the illustrator responsible for end-to-end visual development. My scope included:
- Proposing mascot and scene concepts
- Providing illustration direction and ideas
- Producing final illustration assets
- Collaborating closely with the mobile app designer
The workflow typically started with receiving scene requirements, followed by my own ideation and visual exploration before moving into production.
Constraints
One key brand requirement was the use of a monotone color approach. The illustrations needed to remain visually simple while still feeling lively and expressive, a balance that shaped many of my design decisions.
Process
My working flow was structured but lightweight:
Receive brief → Clarify questions → Suggest ideas → Align with team → Sketch → Iterate → Finalize in Illustrator
This allowed quick feedback loops while keeping the visual language consistent across touch points.
Design Direction
Compass-inspired character
I designed the mascot around the form of a compass, a deliberate metaphor for travel and exploration.
The compass naturally reinforces Zouba’s core promise: helping users find their way through a city and discover new experiences.
Playful humanized details
To avoid the character feeling too static or mechanical, I introduced simple hands and legs. This small anthropomorphic treatment made the mascot feel:
- More approachable
- More expressive in different scenarios
- Better suited for younger audiences
Combined with the monotone style, the result is a character that stays clean yet emotionally engaging.
Outcome
The illustration system was successfully launched with the Zouba mobile app and later extended to the web experience. The client responded positively to the mascot concept and overall visual direction, confirming it aligned well with the product’s intended tone.
Copyright © moonhuilee 2026
Designing the Mascot for Zouba,
a Travel App
Introduction
Zouba is a travel mobile app designed to help users explore cities, discover activities, and collect favorite places into their own curated lists. I was brought in to design the brand’s mascot and supporting illustration system to add warmth and delight across the product experience.
The Goal
The product team wanted the app to feel more emotionally engaging for a younger traveler audience. My objective was to create a cohesive mascot-led illustration set that would:
- Inject a sense of fun and friendliness into the product
- Support key in-app moments and communications
- Maintain visual simplicity aligned with brand constraints
My Role
I was engaged as the illustrator responsible for end-to-end visual development. My scope included:
- Proposing mascot and scene concepts
- Providing illustration direction and ideas
- Producing final illustration assets
- Collaborating closely with the mobile app designer
The workflow typically started with receiving scene requirements, followed by my own ideation and visual exploration before moving into production.
Constraints
One key brand requirement was the use of a monotone color approach. The illustrations needed to remain visually simple while still feeling lively and expressive, a balance that shaped many of my design decisions.
Process
My working flow was structured but lightweight:
Receive brief → Clarify questions → Suggest ideas → Align with team → Sketch → Iterate → Finalize in Illustrator
This allowed quick feedback loops while keeping the visual language consistent across touch points.
Design Direction
Compass-inspired character
I designed the mascot around the form of a compass, a deliberate metaphor for travel and exploration.
The compass naturally reinforces Zouba’s core promise: helping users find their way through a city and discover new experiences.
Playful humanized details
To avoid the character feeling too static or mechanical, I introduced simple hands and legs. This small anthropomorphic treatment made the mascot feel:
- More approachable
- More expressive in different scenarios
- Better suited for younger audiences
Combined with the monotone style, the result is a character that stays clean yet emotionally engaging.
Outcome
The illustration system was successfully launched with the Zouba mobile app and later extended to the web experience. The client responded positively to the mascot concept and overall visual direction, confirming it aligned well with the product’s intended tone.
