Who designed Pikachu for the Pokémon franchise?

Atsuko Nishida designed Pikachu for the Pokémon franchise.

Nishida worked at Game Freak and designed several Pokémon, including Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. Her Pikachu concept was influenced by a squirrel, particularly the way squirrels hold food in their cheeks, which helped inspire Pikachu's electric cheek pouches.

The character's development involved several stages. Early ideas were connected with a rounder, sweet-like shape, and Pikachu's design changed as the team refined its proportions and identity. Satoshi Tajiri later described the creature as a mouse Pokémon, but that description does not change Nishida's design credit.

Ken Sugimori was responsible for much of the franchise's finished artwork and visual presentation, which is why his name is sometimes incorrectly given as Pikachu's sole designer. Nishida's role was the original creature design itself.