Meta asked us to design some squishy little characters for a new Facebook sticker pack. Using some common search terms as a starting point, we designed an eclectic bunch of fun little characters, each with a relatable emotion.

When it came to refining the designs, there was a big emphasis on softness and three-dimensionality. We wanted them to feel squishable, huggable, and sweet. So we brought that level of detail, like little creases or the way that two things push together.

If you look closely at the leaf on the pear, for instance, it's not just a flat 2D leaf on top – you can really see it squishing against the stem. 

The palette is fun and varied, but we made sure there was a little warmth running through the whole pack. So even though there's a lot of different colours, they all kind of sit together as a family.

If you're chatting to someone, it's often easier to use something that doesn't change too much. That was our thought process behind some – like the pear – but for those expressive moments we have more complex animations like the friendly little sushi, which jumps up and then rolls away.

Download Buddies on Facebook Messenger and share the squish!