Mpho, South Africa’s First Virtual Presidential Candidate
Prize(s):
Honorable Mention 2026 Multimedia Design / Interactive Media
School / University Name:Vega School at Emeris
Lead Designer(s) Name(s):Brian Ncube
Professor Name(s):Dr. Ria van Zyl
Project Location:South Africa
Design Status:Concept
Project Description:
The idea was to create a transmedia campaign centered around Mpho, an entirely fictional virtual electoral candidate made to address increasing levels of voter apathy. The AI powered virtual candidate would become a symbol that citizens could rally behind and believe in while educating and engaging them on key voter issues on the road to the 2024 South African National Elections. The transmedia campaign concept incorporated visual storytelling, brand partnerships, interactive digital platforms, social media, user-generated content, below-the-line elements, and e-commerce to effectively and sustainably empower, communicate, and engage citizens on the importance of civic participation and ultimately encourage individuals to register and vote.
The idea was to create a transmedia campaign centered around Mpho, an entirely fictional virtual electoral candidate made to address increasing levels of voter apathy. The AI powered virtual candidate would become a symbol that citizens could rally behind and believe in while educating and engaging them on key voter issues on the road to the 2024 South African National Elections. The transmedia campaign concept incorporated visual storytelling, brand partnerships, interactive digital platforms, social media, user-generated content, below-the-line elements, and e-commerce to effectively and sustainably empower, communicate, and engage citizens on the importance of civic participation and ultimately encourage individuals to register and vote.
Project Innovation / Specification:
To engage citizens on the importance of civic participation and ultimately encourage individuals to register and vote through the use of an entirely fictional virtual electoral candidate.
To engage citizens on the importance of civic participation and ultimately encourage individuals to register and vote through the use of an entirely fictional virtual electoral candidate.
Project Sustainability Approach:
To sustainably empower, communicate, and encourage citizens to register and vote by making use of visual storytelling, interactive digital platforms, social media and user-generated content.
To sustainably empower, communicate, and encourage citizens to register and vote by making use of visual storytelling, interactive digital platforms, social media and user-generated content.
