The AVOFRIENDS were inspired by the vibrant colors of fruits and vegetables in nature.
It creates the positive and healthy vibes that they reflect.
The Creation of AVOFRIENDS
At first, Avo was originally designed by Creator, Hyosha as a personal art project in 2015. Following the creation of Avo, Hyosha initiated figurines and emoticon pieces to conceptualize the character. Between the creation and launch of her brand, Hyosha also designed 3 additional characters alongside Avo. In 2018, Hyosha was given the opportunity to participate in the Art Toy Culture (ATC) event and at this event, she was able to launch her designs as a collection called Avofriends. Each of these figurines were successfully sold via pre-sale reservations at the event.
Character Introduction
AVO
Avocado from California
Avo is an avocado from California ,United states. Curious Avo goes crazy especially when he sees sweet and yummy desserts.Then one day, Avo became curious about his secret sticker and goes on an adventure with his friends to dig up the secret.
Banami
Banana from Phillipines
Banami is the fastest and the most active member of Avo friends. But once he gets angry, his head turns into black and becomes stronger so he protects his friends.
Onie
Onion from Southern Italy
Onie has a warm heart ,likes to hug his friends but her hands are too hot to embrace them. So she always wears red gloves.
Appie
Apple from Paris
Appie is an apple from Paris,France. She always keeps the last leaf on her head clean and neat. The last leaf is like PRIDE to Appie.
Stina
Mangosteen from England
스티나는 영국의 귀족 집안의 막내딸로 예쁨을 받으며 자라와서 구김이 없고
사교성이 좋은 망고스틴이에요.
다재다능하고 애교가 넘쳐서 사람들이 모두 스티나 주변으로
모여드는 매력을 가졌답니다.
아보프렌즈의 모험에서 어려움이 처했을 때 숨기고 있던 재력을 발휘해 부족함 없이 베풀어요.
Maroni
Chestnut from South Korea
마로니는 어릴 적 아무도 주워가지 않은 밤송이로, 깊은 산 속에 혼자 남은 외로운 밤이에요.
아무도 찾지 않는 산 속에서 오래 혼자 지내다보니 슬로우라이프를 즐기면서 사는 법을 깨닫게 되었고 자연과 함께 지내는 것에 익숙해져요. 하지만 가끔 밖에 나갈일이 있거나 낯선 곳에 가면 후드를 뒤집어쓰고 다닌답니다.
Fruity Adventure Story
Each member of Avofriends are fruits and vegetables who are on an adventure searching for origin secrets behind their sticker labels. Avo is from a small farm in California, who is bursting of curiosity and one day discovers that there are special powers emulating from the sticker behind his head. To unveil the secrets of the sticker, Avo takes a great journey. A prince from as hidden island in the Philippines named Banami, a Parisian artist known as Appie, a warm-hearted gentleman from the southern parts of Italy called One and Avo sets out together on an expedition with their own secrets.
Twin Spoon
Power Enhancer
Rainbow Feather
Magical Vehicle
Odd Sock
Portal to Unknown World
Floating Brush
Make Imagination to Real
Who Designs AVOFRIENDS?
Hyosha (Hyosook Lee, 李效淑)
AVOFRIENDS Artist, Representative of AVOGROUND Inc.
Based on art toys, Hyosha is working on various works using AVOFRIENDS characters, such as illustrations, character goods, and character designs. Before she began her artist career, she worked as a UI/UX designer for global messenger LINE, designing mobile services. Art toy work, which started as a hobby, was shown at the ‘Art Toy Culture 2018’, and with the opportunity of contracting with an overseas agency and collaboration with ‘Lotte Members’, the work began in earnest. Based on her design expertise and years of work experience, she established AvoGround Inc. and is growing AVOFRIENDS through domestic and overseas licensing business, product development and branding. She is usually interested in objects rather than animals and likes to draw pictures using the characteristics of objects, so she created fruit and vegetable characters such as AVO(avocado), Banami(banana) and Appie(apple). By projecting the personality of the family and the people around the character members, the public is creating a worldview that can feel sympathy.
TIMELINE
2018.05 아트토이컬쳐 전시 참가로 활동 시작
2018.08 홍콩 썸머 토이쇼 참가
2018.10 롯데멤버스 공식캐릭터 ‘엘포이’제작
2018.10 자라섬 재즈페스티벌 엘포이와 아보프랜즈 캐릭터 활용 마케팅 프로젝트
2018.12 2019년도 롯데멤버스 캘린더 제작
2018.12 홍콩 토이소울 전시 참가
2019.06 롭스 콜라보레이션 마케팅 프로젝트
2019.10 대만 타이페이토이페스티벌 전시 참가 및 블라인드박스 발매
2019.12 제 18회 서울디자인페스티벌 ‘영디자이너 프로모션’선정 및 전시 참가
2020.02 클래스101 ‘캐릭터 브랜딩’ 온라인 클래스 오픈
2020.08-10 AK갤러리 ‘Fruity Vacance전’ 메인 작가로 참가
2020.12 제 19회 서울디자인페스티벌 ‘영디자이너 프로모션’선정 및 전시 참가
Press
2019-2020 design trends summarized by Tencent's top design team: IP image
2019.05.13
AVOFRIENDS Classic Series Set by ToyZero Plus x A Good Company x AVOGROUND
2019.09.30
酪梨AVO靈感是吃貨老公！AVOFRIENDS設計師首訪台曝光背後小故事｜妞專訪
2019.10.19
玩具控一定收藏！夯翻韓國的酪梨公仔「AVO FRIENDS」強勢進軍TTF台北國際玩具創作大展，4大角色創作秘辛一次大公開。
2019.10.11
AVO Friends周圍去冒險超可愛！Toyszeroplus新推牛油果仔系列模型擺設
2019.11.08
Participated Exhibitions
2020
12.9~12.13 Seoul Design Festival @COEX, Seoul, Korea
10.24~12 C-Ream Popup Store @Jamsil Station, Korea
10.6~10.23 Festival of Licensing Europe, Asia, America
8.7~10.4 Fruity Vacance @AK Gallery, Suwon, Korea
2019
Seoul Design Festival @COEX, Seoul, Korea
Taipei Toy Festival @Hwasan Creative Park, Taipei, Taiwan
Creative Expo Taiwan @Taipei, Taiwan
Hong Kong Licensing Show @Hong Kong
2018
Toysoul @Hong Kong
Summersoul @Hong Kong
Art Toy Culture @COEX, Seoul, Korea
AVOFRIENDS in Asia
The launch of Avofriends in 2018 created a lot of buzz in the toy industry and it allows to cooperate with A Good Company which is an agency in Hong Kong to introduce in licensing the characters in parts of Asia: such as Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Thailand. The Avofriends received positive feedback after participating in several toy shows : such as Hong Kong’s Summer Soul 2018, Toysoul 2018 and the Chinese Licensing Fair. Avofriends is currently working on collaborating with other art toy creators and planning to participate in various toy shows throughout Asia.
In particular with the 2018 Toy Soul event which was held in the T.O.P. Shopping Mall, located at the center of attraction in Hong Kong brought together many well-known toy art designers from various countries of the world. Among them, Creator Hyo was the only participating creator from Korea. The Avofriends display received raving and positive feedback from the attendees.
