Springbot is a piece of my identity that I was excited to incorporate into my work in the US. The design of Springbot was influenced by my South African roots, based on the springbok, our national animal. The springbok represents pride and the beauty I have been surrounded by growing up in South Africa. Like the scratched and rusted metal, our country has its history; however, the panels replaced with silver and gold represent the building of the new South Africa that we have today, which I consider home.

I was inspired by the aesthetic of steampunk robots, incorporating chipped and scratched features – imperfections that contribute to the hyperrealism of the character. I also took into consideration the anatomy of springboks, where I incorporated the ribs and flow of the muscles into the metal.