Bukas
Material Messages for Filipino Migrant Workers and their Transnational Families.
This design-led research project looks into the phenomenon of communication and expression in the diasporic family relationship, particularly between Filipino domestic workers and their families.The research also looks into material culture and the meaning of the 'balikbayan box' metaphor as a design prompt, leading to the creation of design guidelines and concept development for Bukas, a tangible product linked with a mobile interface that facilitates meaningful daily communication for migrant Filipina workers and their families through augmented reality-enabled physical messages contained in a box. The inquiry consists of immersive qualitative methods including interviews, cultural probes, and participatory workshops to deepen the understanding of the stakeholders' mindsets, behaviours, and expressive needs."