For the annual NASP inSPire 2026 Conference, I was invited to create and animate a cute character. Its mission was clear: make the conference app feel engaging, bringing fun and personality into a serious professional environment. It also welcomed conference guests on the large screen in the conference hall, entertaining the audience between speakers. The result was a character that went beyond being a visual mascot: the Maryland Blue Crab became a small digital host, guide, and source of unexpected fun, helping bring a more human and playful touch to the conference experience. I talk about this project in more detail in the case study in my portfolio: https://contra.com/p/BgPXLRAk-crab-with-mission-making-professional-conference-playful-or-rive?r=vera_d3rawyes