Develop a set of phone wallpapers for AT&T Kids First Phone that resonate with tweens. The designs needed to feel modern, expressive, and aligned with real interests—helping the device stand out as both safe and genuinely cool in a crowded youth tech market.

Tweens aged 11 to 14

Our goal was to refresh AT&T’s existing Park Pak animal characters and reimagine them for a tween audience. To do this, the team explored themes grounded in real tween interests—sports, gaming, camping, Minecraft-influenced worlds, and popular movies. These directions were chosen to expand relevance and keep the device culturally in step with this age group.

When I reworked the characters Chip, Spot, Digit, and Shelby, I drew inspiration from the “cute minimalism” found in Japanese children’s character design—such as Rilakkuma and Hello Kitty. These are simple, expressive, and universally appealing, resonating not only with tweens but also with older demographics. This approach allowed the characters to feel more contemporary, more collectible, and more emotionally engaging for kids transitioning out of early childhood aesthetics.

The result: a set of wallpapers that strike the balance between playful and age-appropriate—supporting the product’s positioning as both fun and safe, while still allowing tweens to feel a sense of individuality and self-expression.