Rawrrr! Monstie is loose. Fresh off a glow-up, Inbox Monster’s new mascot leads the charge in a bold rebrand by Verve | United Playgrounds
This isn’t just a visual refresh. It’s a full Monstie Cinematic Universe, built to give serious character to a high-performance email marketing platform.
When your campaigns hit 100,000 inboxes at once, pressing send can feel like a leap. That’s where Monstie comes in. Emotional support in mascot form, popping up across the brand from Monstie Sans to unexpected, joyful UX details.
Fun, functional, and completely ownable. Great work by Laura Sullivan, Grace Roberts, and the Inbox Monster team.
Insights with Iskander Krayenbosch / Verve
What tools were used?
For both the Inbox Monster and Findest projects, After Effects was my go-to. That said, I think the specific software matters less than how well it helps get the job done. I’m always up for using whatever tool best brings my creative vision to life.
Which tools do you believe are the future in design & motion?
The future of animation tools really varies by sector. After Effects is the workhorse for lots of us, but it definitely needs some serious updates to keep up.
I’m keeping a close eye on web-based animation software like Rive, Jitter, and Lottiefiles. They’re looking promising, but they’re not quite there yet. Definitely worth watching as they develop!
But honestly, the biggest game-changer will likely be AI video generators. Imagine animators feeding in static images (like storyboards) and AI creating all the in-between frames, with tons of options to tweak and refine. Krea is one to watch in this space.
What is Verve’s vision regarding the blend of design & motion within branding?
Motion design really lifts the user experience and gives you another way to connect with your audience. Think of it like building a house: the strategy is your strong foundation, the brand design creates all the different rooms, and then motion design comes in as the interior, bringing the whole place to life. Every piece builds on the one before it.
What advice do you have for students who want to develop their skills in design & motion?
The creative world is always changing, with new tools, techniques, and trends popping up all the time. If you want to succeed, focus on making your ideas actually happen and always be open to learning new things. Use AI as a great way to express your concepts, and keep polishing your designs. When an idea hits you, figure out the best tool to make it real. Here are some tools I use personally: After Effects, Blender, Cinema 4D, Cavalry, Rive, and Jitter.
For more infor about Verve and this case, visit their website: verveagency.com