Ko the Professional

character design

Safety is an important subject in the world of gas and oil. If you don’t pay attention or follow safety procedures, changes are you injure yourself, or worse. For REYM, as a professional service provider to a lot of oil- and gas related companies, this subject has always been an important part of their daily operations.

But repeating the same message over and over can make it a little stale. Therefore, they asked me to design a character that would bring the message across in lighthearted way.

First drafts of Ko. The final version is a little more beefy, adding to the character representing more of a hero.

Introducing: Ko the Professional! The only two-dimensional safety officer in the world. The avatar was received well within the organisation. Ko features in explainers about safety, but is also used on billboards, posters, towels, T-shirts and greeting cards.

To make Ko communicate with his audience, the entire character was rigged (hands and limbs) and a lip-sync with face controls were used to make him talk, smile and turn his head. Where needed, his hands can be replaced for different gestures.