Young African designers looking to turn their creative skills into real-world industry experience have another opportunity to do just that, with PUBG MOBILE opening applications for the second season of its Rising Designer programme.
The Africa-focused initiative offers two design students paid internships at leading studios on the continent, where they will gain hands-on industry experience and have the opportunity to work directly on PUBG MOBILE projects.
There is also the possibility that their designs could eventually appear inside the globally popular mobile game.
Applications are open until 1 September 2026.
From African creativity to a global gaming audience
Rising Designer forms part of PUBG MOBILE’s wider Pt​​opia Design Project (PDP), a global competition aimed at discovering emerging creative talent.
The Rising Designer programme, however, has been developed specifically for African design students and forms part of the game’s “For Africa, By Africa” initiative.
PUBG MOBILE says the programme is intended to give emerging African creatives a route from studying design to gaining practical studio experience, while also bringing more African influences into a game played by more than a billion people globally.
The opportunity comes amid continued conversations about Africa’s place in the global creative economy. According to figures cited by the programme from the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the continent’s creative industries employed an estimated five million people in 2023, while Africa accounted for only around 1% of creative goods exported globally.
More than 50 applications have already been received for the 2026 programme, with organisers expecting that figure to exceed 100 before entries close.
Season one took designers from campus to the studio
The programme’s first season saw African design students move from the classroom into professional studio environments.
Cape Town-based design studio Loud Rabbits hosted two of the winning interns in 2025.
“It was a pleasure to have the two Rising Designer interns join our team. We took them under our wing and they absolutely smashed it,” said Loud Rabbits Marketing Manager Jasmine Hawkins.
She said the interns were exposed to a real design pipeline, including working with client feedback, while being given a supportive environment in which to learn.
South African institutions have also been involved in the initiative, with universities and colleges including the Academy of Digital Arts, Vega School, Academic Institute of Excellence, University of Johannesburg and Tshwane University of Technology participating in the programme.
TUT lecturer and PUBG MOBILE Core PDP Creator Brent Swart previously mentored the programme’s two season one winners.
“The PUBG MOBILE Rising Designer programme is a game-changing opportunity that gives emerging African designers the platform, exposure and confidence to successfully transition into a real studio environment, for turning their creativity into a global career,” Swart said.
What happened to last year’s winners?
Season one winner Ibukun Awe secured an internship at Loud Rabbits in Cape Town, where he was able to work on PUBG MOBILE projects.
Awe said the experience significantly strengthened his portfolio and helped him build momentum in his design career.
“Not a single day passed where I didn’t learn something new,” he said.
Fellow winner Musawenkosi Masondo described the opportunity to work on PUBG MOBILE projects under the studio’s guidance as “a golden opportunity”.
“The skills I got to learn at such an early stage of my career have become the foundation of what I do, now and going forward,” Masondo said.
The two designers also collaborated on creative work for PUBG MOBILE, including artwork marking Labour Day and Africa Day.
Why programmes like this matter for young creatives
The initiative also speaks to a challenge facing young designers trying to enter increasingly technology-driven creative industries.
Entry-level positions have traditionally given junior designers the opportunity to learn professional workflows, develop portfolios and build the experience needed to progress into more senior positions.
As some entry-level creative tasks become increasingly automated, programmes offering practical studio experience could become an important bridge between education and employment.
For African students, the potential international exposure adds another dimension.
Brian Gu, Head of PUBG MOBILE Africa, said the company wants to bring more authentic African elements into the game while creating opportunities for local talent.
“Through the Rising Designer programme, we’re empowering local talent who live and breathe African culture, allowing their vision to shine on a global stage,” Gu said.
How to apply for PUBG MOBILE Rising Designer 2026
The programme is open to design students in Africa, with two paid internships available.
Applicants must complete two steps:
- Submit their artwork to the main PDP 2026 competition.
- Complete and submit the Rising Designer internship application.
Submit your design to PDP 2026
Apply for the Rising Designer internship
There are no restrictions on creative style, but entries must include male and female character outfits shown from the front and back, as well as an upgradeable firearm design.
Applications close on 1 September 2026.
For African design students hoping to break into the creative industry, the programme offers more than a competition win. It is an opportunity to move from designing for a portfolio to producing work for one of the world’s biggest mobile gaming audiences.
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