Jiordan Roque
BooBoo: A Balikbayan Inspired Blind Box
Graphic Design
2026
InkJet Printing, 300gsm Paper
BooBoo serves as a response to overconsumption and Gen Z spending habits. With blind box products gaining popularity among younger audiences, this can lead to unsustainable waste due to the material used and unhealthy exposure to gambling and high consumption because of the business model. To combat the blind box market, each figure is made from its own packaging structure to limit waste. The consumer is directed to build the figure, creating a sentimental attachment between the consumer and the figure rather than a monetary value. The material also allows the figure to be recyclable whenever you please. Each toy is based on nostalgic Filipino snacks and food, which are typical items within a Balikbayan box. The overall look is based on another Filipino term, “Anik-Anik,” which is a maximalist trend of small random items. To achieve the maximalist look, the design uses produce box-inspired graphics and stickers that are placed all over.
“"BooBoo is an ode to my experience growing up as Filipino-Canadian. Balibayan boxes were always prominent in my household and family. It was a way for our family in Canada to send love back home. BooBoo allows me to share that tradition with everyone, sending you a balibayan box of your own filled with paper figures that are inspired by nostalgic Filipino snacks from my childhood.”
