Sticker App Development & Design
Self-Initiated Project
The sticker pack came to exist out of frustration to not be able to find the right stickers to share with my friends after a CrossFit class. Nothing was conveying the right emotions and experiences we had. Thus, the idea for a quirky cartoon character named Mr.Eggxercise was conceived.
I developed the application, designed the stickers and animated Gifs exploring positive vibes and humor throughout social media.
Why did I create a Sticker App in the First Place?
I knew that making an iOS sticker pack is simple enough by using programs like Xcode, and requires no coding knowledge. I thought to myself: how hard could it be to make an Android version?
Turns out, a lot harder than I thought. While I know how to navigate in JavaScript, I don’t feel comfortable writing a code from scratch. I didn’t know how to build an app or what software to use. And as I found out, making an Android sticker pack means making an app with the Android Studio. Making things even worse, there seems to be a shortage of clear and helpful articles on this topic.
But, if anything, I can be super stubborn. So I wanted to figure this out. And figure it out I did. I spent weeks researching and learning Java so I can find my way around the code and troubleshoot whenever needed.
Learned a lot about Android Libraries, API, Firebase, SDK and how to integrate the stickers with Google Native Keyboard (Gboard). I even opened an Android Developer Account and released the app!
In the following weeks, I was splitting my energy and attention between learning how to develop an Android Sticker App and design the stickers themselves.
But, if anything, I can be super stubborn. So I wanted to figure this out. And figure it out I did. I spent weeks researching and learning Java so I can find my way around the code and troubleshoot whenever needed.
Learned a lot about Android Libraries, API, Firebase, SDK and how to integrate the stickers with Google Native Keyboard (Gboard). I even opened an Android Developer Account and released the app!
In the following weeks, I was splitting my energy and attention between learning how to develop an Android Sticker App and design the stickers themselves.
Initial Character Exploration
It was my first time designing a character and I didn’t know how to visualize emotions, so I started out with modest ambitions, coming up with a simple concept inspired by the Crossfit Community.
Knowing that I want to make and share stickers “as I go” and eventually animate them I decided to stick with simple shapes. I decided to hone in on creating a simple design character that everyone could have identify with by utilizing the masking effect used in illustrations and comics.
An Egg may not be the first thing to think of when it comes to character design but a simple round shape suggests creating an appealing, friendly but at the same time somewhat comical personage.
I started with pen and paper but quickly switch to digital media knowing that I need to go there anyways. Using my Wacom tablet and Adobe illustrator, I began to sketch different exercise poses and exploring facial features and expressions until I found the one that felt right.
Initial Character Exploration
It was my first time designing a character and I didn’t know how to visualize emotions, so I started out with modest ambitions, coming up with a simple concept inspired by the Crossfit Community.
Knowing that I want to make and share stickers “as I go” and eventually animate them I decided to stick with simple shapes. I decided to hone in on creating a simple design character that everyone could have identify with by utilizing the masking effect used in illustrations and comics.
An Egg may not be the first thing to think of when it comes to character design but a simple round shape suggests creating an appealing, friendly but at the same time somewhat comical personage.
I started with pen and paper but quickly switch to digital media knowing that I need to go there anyways. Using my Wacom tablet and Adobe illustrator, I started sketching different exercise poses and exploring facial features and expressions until I found the one that felt right.
Mr.EggXercise Persona
With lots of moxie (sometimes too much moxie), he loves challenging workouts, but he is not foreign to complaining after a tough workout or disappointment in not achieving a workout goal.
Love his daily workouts but can’t wait for a day of rest when he can be lazy and indulge in his favorite food and drinks.
Light-hearted and friendly he likes attention and he doesn’t miss an opportunity to show off his skills.
Mr.EggXercise Persona
With lots of moxie (sometimes too much moxie), he loves challenging workouts, but he is not foreign to complaining after a tough workout or disappointment in not achieving a workout goal.
Love his daily workouts but can’t wait for a day of rest when he can be lazy and indulge in his favorite food and drinks.
Light-hearted and friendly he likes attention and he doesn’t miss an opportunity to show off his skills.
Exploring Poses & Emotions
I created a rich set of poses that conveyed a variety of emotions and concepts. I designed an array of mouth and eyes positions which combined make up different facial expressions. As a result, the character appears to be expressing different emotions – be happy, sad, surprised, angry, confused, scared, confident, etc.
To illustrate different situations and exercises I included additional equipment used in Crossfit in the compositions.
I created a rich set of poses that conveyed a variety of emotions and concepts. I designed an array of mouth and eyes positions which combined make up different facial expressions. As a result, the character appears to be expressing different emotions – be happy, sad, surprised, angry, confused, scared, confident, etc.
To illustrate different situations and exercises I included additional equipment used in Crossfit in the compositions.
Android Sticker Pack
Initial Sticker Pack Design
After putting together the initial pack it felt like the stickers weren’t expressive enough. The style direction I was exploring was lacking something by not fully leveraging the power of typography.
Official Sticker Pack Design
The sticker pack is not meant to illustrate a proper movement technique but rather what most of us start to look like halfway through a strenuous workout or at the end of it. Technique and proper moves get thrown out the window. It’s all about survival!
The purpose of a sticker pack is relatability. If it’s relatable people are more inclined to use it. The idea of a sticker is never something serious. It’s better if they bring a light-hearted nature to something that is quite hard as showing up at the gym.
Sending stickers using Gboard
Sending stickers using the Sticker’s Native App
Sending stickers using Gboard
Sending stickers using the Sticker’s Native App
Animated Gifs & Animations
The challenge when designing stickers is to keep things simple and readable at a small size. This time also I had to animate using as few frames as possible and as always keep things fun!
Clarity is something I prioritized throughout the process. If a sticker doesn’t make sense to the recipient within a split second, then it’s useless.
The challenge when designing stickers is to keep things simple and readable at a small size. This time also I had to animate using as few frames as possible and as always keep things fun!
Clarity is something I prioritized throughout the process. If a sticker doesn’t make sense to the recipient within a split second, then it’s useless.
Final Reflection
This was a project of many firsts – from developing an Android Sticker App to creating an emotional character design and Crossfit Sticker Pack. I was able to learn a lot of new skills and improve myself as a professional. That was my pay off for all the invested time.