Saving the world,
one brain at a time
Brainrot is an app designed to help people regain control over their smartphone use. It uses blockers, streaks, and mindfulness techniques make focusing feel fun and rewarding.
Mary Delaney: Mascot design, illustration
‍Dario Ferrando: Art Direction, branding, UI design
‍Arsen Airyan: Animation
A vector illustration of a cartoon brain mascot with arms and legs sitting on a small green platform surrounded by grass and trees, holding a small yellow flower, looking happy and smiling.
A vector illustration of a beach scene with several cartoon characters that look like pink human brains play in the sand or relax under red beach umbrellas. Black text reads "Enough Screentime. Try Brainrot." with a link to download an app in the App Store.
The Brief
Brainrot approached my friend and superstar art director Dario Ferrando looking for a visual branding overhaul and a makeover of their already beloved mascot.

As soon as it was clear they were up for an illustrated brand, Dario brought me on board and we started collecting inspiration.
A collage image showing 5 different illustrations, all in a retro vintage psychedelic style. Several images feature cartoon versions of human brains with positive, retro colors.
Brainrot had already found some images online that captured the mood they wanted.

We ran with their idea and started identifying visuals that felt fresh, a little edgy, but still wholesome. Something memorable and funky.

At this early stage of the process, alignment with the client is crucial, so once we landed on a possible direction, we checked in with them.

I rarely use AI in my process, but this is one case where it made sense: we could use AI to quickly make mockups of our ideas in the style we were considering, to make it easier for our client to visualise the possible applications.
Three illustrated images on a white background, showing a cloud-like brain character standing on an organic platform surrounded by clouds, trees, and plants. The central image includes an app UI with pink elements for an app called Brainrot with a smaller image of the brain character near the center.
The First Mascot
The most important first step in shaping the look of the app is the mascot design.

There’s so much that goes into character or mascot design - apart from the visual style itself, the character has a specific personality that communicates itself in every line of its appearance.

It needs to capture the precise mood of the brand - whether it’s friendly, sleek, professional, or cute. The process of designing the mascot is often a revelation for the brand owners themselves, because it requires them to get clear about the personality of their product.

For me, this means lots and lots of sketches. I identify several broad directions, then iterate on them by changing small details.
A composite image showing black and white sketches of a cartoon brain mascot in various styles, and multiple vector images of a cartoon brain mascot in different styles and color variations, with handwritten notes on the margins.
The possibilities are endless!
The Course Correction
We were reminded again of the importance of checking in early and often with clients.

Brainrot liked our ideas, but after sleeping on it, they realized that none of them hit the right tone.

They decided to go back to their original AI-generated mascot as inspiration and asked us to create something similar to the character they already knew and loved.
An image showing two iphone mockup screens side by side, with a UI for a smartphone app. The image on the left shows a cartoon brain mascot, while the image on the right shows a black and white sketch of a similar mascot.
Nugget is born
At last we hit on a mascot that Brainrot could fall in love with!

This is the fun part in any design process. The groundwork is laid and it’s time to go full speed ahead on breathing life into the illustrated world.

We also started adding personality to our mascot, who we nicknamed Nugget.
A composite image with a light blue background showing various sketches and early concepts for a cartoon brain mascot character.
Into the Nuggetverse
With our mascot taking shape, Dario started diving into the app designs. An illustrated world started to spring up, shaped and being shaped by the UI and UX decisions. We brought in Arsen for animation tests and continued to collaborate closely on app designs and illustrations.
An image showing multiple illustrations of a cute cartoon brain mascot wearing different outfits and engaged in different actvities.An image showing two phot screens with an app mockup of a cartoon brain mascot. On the right of the phone screens is a larger cartoon brain mascot reading a book.A composite image with a light blue background showing iphone mockups in a diagonal pattern, with each phone showing a mockup of the Brainrot app.A image with a light blue background showing different colorful cartoon icons like a calendar, brain, fire, star, and pillow.
A vector image showing a cartoon brain mascot wearing a headband and lifting dumbbells with the text "Ready for Gym".
A vector illustration with a green background showing a cartoon brain mascot sitting in green grass and holding a yellow flower.
A vector illustration with a purple background showing a cartoon brain mascot character working on a laptop with the text "Focus Work".
A vector illustration showing several cartoon brains sitting on park benches in a city park with green grass and paths, with a background of building silhouettes.
An image showing a mockup of an iphone screen for an app, with a light blue background. A cartoon mascot of a brain meditating with rocks on its head at the top, with the text "Rebuild your brain with Brainrot" underneath.
Want a nugget of your own?
Nugget is living his best life in the Brainrot app. Check out the appstore or thebrainrotapp.com.


But Dario and I still have plenty of mascot ideas we’d love to bring to life! Drop us a line if you want to start your own mascot designing adventure. Studies show that mascots help increase brand recognition and improve sales of digital products.

Get in touch and let’s see what we can create!
Hey Mary!
My brain is rotten! Take me home!
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