Character Design, 3D Design, Illustration, Motion Graphics.
HR
3D Design
Brand Character
About the Project
Academi: From platform to character
Conceptual Foundation
EmiLabs launched Academi as a flexible learning ecosystem where users can take ownership of their growth while feeling supported every step of the way. More than just a platform, it brings product, brand, and experience together under one principle: people learn better when they feel accompanied. To embody that idea, Emi, the core figure of EmiLabs’ product family, evolved into a warm, expressive character named Tr3s, designed to live inside Academi and grow alongside each user, becoming the emotional anchor of the entire learning experience.
Introducing a character to Academi marked a major step for EmiLabs. It boosted user interaction through a more relatable experience.
Project Objectives
We had to create a 3D character that could embody Emi within a new learning environment — not just visually, but emotionally. It needed to act as a guide, a companion, and sometimes even a cheerleader throughout the user’s journey. The challenge was to create a character that felt alive: expressive, adaptable, and consistent with EmiLabs’ product language, while expanding naturally into Academi’s learning-first universe.
A Scalable Piece of the System
Tr3s feels both familiar and fresh: a modular 3D character designed to connect with users while adapting seamlessly across environments. Built with clarity and movement in mind, its form reflects Academi’s visual language while adding warmth, presence, and purpose.
A Character with Purpose
Once Tr3s was brought to life, we delivered a full set of animated and static assets. These were designed to welcome users, guide them through onboarding flows, and mark key milestones across the Academi platform.
Tr3s was never meant to be a mascot. It’s a peer: expressive, approachable, and built to grow with every user. We produced over five animated scenes and multiple stills, each crafted to feel natural within the product experience.
Clean visual elements, soft materials, and a gradient-driven palette shaped a warm, semi-abstract visual world. Bold yet minimal, this environment gave Tr3s a stage that feels uniquely part of Academi’s identity.
Creative Process
Designing Tr3s was a thoughtful, intentional process. We explored a wide spectrum, from abstract, minimal creatures to fully developed character concepts, all within a cohesive visual system. Through rapid iteration and close collaboration, we pushed its personality while staying rooted in Academi’s product language. Sketch by sketch, Tr3s took shape: approachable but intelligent, supportive yet expressive. More than just "cute," it was designed to guide, adapt, and feel like it truly belongs.
The Outcome
Tr3s gave us the chance to turn a system into something that feels personal. Behind every curve, color, and motion, there’s a quiet intention: to make learning feel less like a task and more like a shared path. A small presence with a big role inside Academi by EmiLabs.
