Season 2 of the PUBG MOBILE Rising Designer internship programme will be accepting applications until 1 September 2026, with two paid internships at top African design studios awarded to winning entries.
From lecture halls to global gaming screens, PUBG MOBILE’s Rising Designer programme is back, and this time it’s offering two paid internships that could change the trajectory of young African creatives.
The second season of the initiative has already drawn dozens of applications, with organisers expecting more than 100 before the 1 September 2026 deadline.
Winners
For the winners, the prize is more than just a stipend – it’s a chance to have their work featured inside one of the world’s most played mobile games, part of PUBG MOBILE’s “For Africa, By Africa” push to showcase local talent.
“Inspired by the creativity of Africa’s youth and the continent’s rich, profound culture, PUBG MOBILE is committed to bringing more authentic African elements into the game,” said Brian Gu, Head of PUBG MOBILE Africa.
“Through Rising Designer, we’re empowering local talent who live and breathe African culture, allowing their vision to shine on a global stage.”
Programme
The programme builds on the success of its first season, which placed interns at Cape Town’s Loud Rabbits studio. “We took them under our wing and they absolutely smashed it,” recalled Jasmine Hawkins, Marketing Manager at Loud Rabbits.
“They got real‑world experience, client feedback, and we adored having fresh creatives around.”
For the interns themselves, the impact was life‑changing.
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Opportunities
Ibukun Awe, one of the inaugural winners, said: “Not a single day passed where I didn’t learn something new. My portfolio has been significantly strengthened thanks to this, and it’s now enabling me to progress in my design career with momentum that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.”
His fellow winner, Musawenkosi Masondo, added: “Getting the opportunity to work on PUBG MOBILE projects under Loud Rabbits’ guidance was a golden opportunity. The skills I learned at such an early stage have become the foundation of what I do now and going forward.”
Creative industries
The stakes are high. Africa’s creative industries employed an estimated 5 million people in 2023, yet the continent accounts for just 1% of global creative goods exports, according to the UN Economic Commission for Africa.
Rising Designer aims to close that gap by giving young artists the kind of entry point that’s increasingly rare in a world where entry‑level jobs are being automated.
Applications for Season 2 are open until 1 September 2026. Entrants must submit character outfit designs and an upgradeable firearm concept, with winners securing internships at top African studios – and the chance to see their creations live inside PUBG MOBILE.
For Africa’s next generation of designers, this is more than a competition. It’s a launchpad.
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