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NOTABLE WORK

BUBBLER

ORIGINAL CHARACTER IP

BUDDIES

Bubbler Buddies is an original character IP and storytelling platform created to make Milwaukee feel more accessible, playful, and connected through family-friendly content.

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Co-created by Travis Chambers and Niko Porter, the project follows Colby, a Milwaukee native and infinite optimist, and Hamton, a transplant still learning the city. Through their friendship, Colby introduces Hamton to Milwaukee’s attractions, neighborhoods, local personalities, cultural references, and everyday experiences.

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What began as a comic concept was designed with a larger purpose: to create a recognizable local storytelling property that could connect residents, newcomers, families, kids, local brands, community organizations, and cultural institutions through characters people could grow with.

ORIGINAL
CHARACTER IP
BRAND
EXTENSION
CULTURAL
IDENTITY
FAMILY-FRIENDLY
ENGAGEMENT
LOCAL
STORYTELLING

THE IDEA

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Milwaukee has no shortage of stories, landmarks, traditions, inside jokes, neighborhood pride, and local legends. The opportunity was to create a simple, accessible way to introduce those pieces of the city through characters instead of traditional marketing or event promotion.

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Bubbler Buddies was built around the idea that people connect faster through story. By using Colby and Hamton as guides, the project creates a playful entry point into the city’s culture while giving Uptown Society a storytelling arm that can live beyond events.

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The concept allows Milwaukee to be explored through humor, optimism, curiosity, and local pride.

THE FORMAT

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Each story is designed as a three-part adventure, with one full plot released quarterly. This structure creates a repeatable content system that keeps audiences curious about where Colby and Hamton will go next.

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The world is built to expand over time through:

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  • New friends

  • Background characters

  • Milwaukee landmarks

  • Local businesses

  • Influencers and community figures

  • Folklore and local legends

  • Seasonal moments

  • Current events

  • Possible love interests

  • Brand and community partnerships
     

The goal is to build a living Milwaukee story world, not a one-off comic strip.

MY ROLE

Co-Creator | Creative Producer

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  • Co-Creator & Creative Producer

  • I helped develop the project as both a creative property and a community engagement tool.

  • My role included:

  • Co-developing the original concept

  • Shaping the character dynamic between Colby and Hamton

  • Building the connection to Milwaukee culture and local discovery

  • Developing the quarterly three-part story structure

  • Identifying opportunities for local partnerships and brand integration

  • Creating the strategic bridge between Bubbler Buddies and Uptown Society

  • Supporting the use of coloring sheets as an event-based youth engagement tool

  • Exploring future extensions including animation, merchandise, and live appearances

READ ALL ISSUES

WHAT IT PROVES

Bubbler Buddies demonstrates the ability to think beyond one event, one campaign, or one piece of content.

 

The project shows:

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  • Original IP development

  • Character-based storytelling

  • Brand extension strategy

  • Youth and family engagement

  • Community-centered content development

  • Local culture translation

  • Partnership potential

  • Creative world-building

  • Merchandise and animation thinking

  • Mission-aligned brand storytelling

KEY TAKEAWAYS​​​​

  • Co-created an original Milwaukee-centered IP with potential across comics, events, youth programming, merchandise, animation, and partnerships.

  • Developed a character duo built for repeatable storytelling, using Colby as the local guide and Hamton as the newcomer discovering the city.

  • Created a flexible story world designed to include Milwaukee landmarks, folklore, local businesses, community figures, and current events.

  • Extended the project into real-world engagement through coloring sheets distributed at events for kids and families.

  • Built a softer brand extension for Uptown Society that supports local pride, family-friendly content, and community connection.

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