meet Muzztafa, the Muzz mascot, lovingly named by us and originally sketched and designed by me in 2023 before we brought him to life in 2024.
 

i worked alongside fellow designer Zikria to develop the character, thinking carefully about how the design could feel fun, approachable and iconic while still being respectful of Muzz’s Muslim audience. there were lots of little cultural and religious considerations to think about, including avoiding drawn facial features such as eyes. So we found our own way around this with the addition of his signature comical sunglasses. honestly, i think they gave him way more personality anyway.
 

from there, we worked directly with a supplier in Stockport to bring Muzztafa into the real world, choosing everything from the fabrics and materials to his overall outfit. the clothing needed to be unisex, comfortable and appropriately loose-fitting, so there was a surprising amount to consider beyond simply making him look cute.
 

this was completely new territory for me, i had never designed a mascot before, so getting to take something from an initial sketch all the way through to a physical character was such a fun learning experience.
 

from a little sketch in 2023 to a whole actual Muzztafa in 2024. i still love him ♡