New Media Design student Matija Mravunac selected as Zagreb Design Week finalist for virtual pet game “Merp”
Matija Mravunac, a New Media Design student, has been selected as a finalist for the ZGDW AWARD 2025 in the Digital Communication Design and Interaction Design category for his virtual pet game prototype, Merp. The ZGDW AWARD, part of Zagreb Design Week, a prestigious design festival in Croatia, celebrates outstanding projects in six categories: Product Design, Graphic Design, Digital Communication & Interaction Design, Textile & Fashion Design, Interior Design, and Social Innovation Design. The Digital Communication & Interaction Design category focuses on digital projects such as websites, applications, and games, highlighting innovation in HMI, UX/UI, and digital interaction.
Since 2017, the award has welcomed entries from designers all over the world, with a distinguished international jury of experts evaluating submissions and selecting the top entries, ensuring that finalists represent the best in creativity, technical skill, and design thinking. The top finalists will be showcased at an exhibition during Zagreb Design Week from 9 to 21 September 2025 at Jadran Film, and the winners will be announced at the festival’s opening on 9 September.
Retro gaming, modern student innovation
Merp is a virtual pet game that blends storytelling, gameplay, and emotional engagement in a compact, nostalgic format. Inspired by retro devices like Tamagotchi and Game Boy, the game features a Pufirion from the distant planet Flufferos, recognizable by its fox-like fur and glowing trail. Players take care of Merp by balancing energy, happiness, and stress levels through feeding, playing, and resting. Merp is played on a prototyped handheld console with a custom user interface and interactive button system that simulates tactile gameplay.
Matija developed Merp under the guidance of Dr. Petar Branislav Jelušić, a graphic designer and lecturer at RIT Croatia specializing in interactive and digital design. With expertise in data visualization, image manipulation, and functional system design, Dr. Jelušić emphasizes the combination of technical skill and creative exploration, mentoring students like Matija to build human-centered digital experiences.
We are excited to celebrate Matija’s achievement! His selection as a ZGDW finalist is a wonderful recognition of his talent, creativity, and dedication, and it reflects the spirit of innovation and curiosity that drives our students to turn ideas into meaningful projects.
