Taggy Bears is an original plush IP I created after noticing how most carnival prizes felt outdated and disconnected from how kids actually express themselves today. I set out to reimagine the classic teddy bear through the lens of Gen-Alpha culture - drawing from TikTok (Brainrot) humor, memes, slang, and the exaggerated expressions kids use online.

Through my sketch explorations, I developed bears with bold, expressive faces inspired by viral reactions and internet personalities, turning moments like the the Rizzler's “Rizz Face” and other meme-driven emotions into collectible plush characters. The designs lean into the playful, slightly derpy aesthetic that has become popular with the girls category and audiences.

To strengthen the social first DNA of the brand, I designed oversized speech-bubble hangtags that give each bear a “voice,” amplifying their meme worthy expressions and personality. The result is a plush line designed to feel native to internet culture characters kids recognize, relate to, and want to share with their other memelord friends online and IRL.

Beyond product design, I also developed the brand’s early social presence. Because the DNA of Taggy Bears is rooted in internet humor and trends, I led the creation of TikToks, memes, GIFs, and social assets designed for virality. By tapping into current trends, the TikTok page generated over 250K views and 12K+ likes before the brand even launched, embedding the characters into meme culture from the start. These have since launched in January 2026 across Dave and Busters, Playdium, The RecRoom, and more.

Check it out on TikTok here: @TaggyBears.