ABOUT THE PROJECT

One Down Media is a Filipino American–founded platform dedicated to amplifying Filipino stories, culture, and lived experiences through media, community, and advocacy. I was brought on as a graphic designer to create merchandise supporting Breaking the Tabo, a YouTube series launched in 2020 that explores often unspoken topics within the Filipino community, including mental health, cultural identity, stereotypes, and tradition. Working closely with the founders, I developed and presented multiple creative concepts, one of which evolved into an illustrated tabo character that became a key visual asset within the series’ brand system. What began as a single graphic tee grew into a long-standing creative element that continues to anchor Breaking the Tabo and Tabo Takes across content, social platforms, and merchandise as the organization continues to grow.

KEY ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collaborated closely with One Down Media’s founders to translate the mission and tone of Breaking the Tabo into visual assets

• Brainstormed and presented concept-driven merch directions, guiding creative decision-making

• Illustrated an original tabo character, which became the central mascot for the series

• Designed graphic tees and extended the artwork to totes and stickers for broader distribution

• Delivered a culturally resonant design that evolved into a long-standing creative element across multiple series and platforms