The Labubu Rush
4.15.25
I have been drawn to the pop culture phenomenon of Labubu — a mischievous, wide-eyed creature from Pop Mart’s “The Monsters” collection that’s gone from quirky collectible to full-fledged fashion accessory. Once just a niche toy, Labubu has evolved into a status symbol, dangling from the handles of Hermès Birkins and Loewe bags.
What fascinated me even more was the collector craze that spun out of this toy. Fueled by unpredictable drops, viral celebrity shoutouts, and the thrill of the blind-box gamble, fans of Labubu don't just buy from a store or online, they camp out at 3am. This got me thinking, how can I turn this into a fun collectors game with Snap Lens?
I set out to create a logo in Adobe Illustrator that captured the essence of the Labubu brand—equal parts mischievous charm and the chaotic thrill of the collectible craze. After exploring a few different directions, I landed on the middle design for its perfect balance of quirky energy and irresistible cuteness. It felt the most true to the wild, whimsical world Labubu lives in.
The user must tap on Labubu as quickly as possible within a time limit. Each successful tap, the user "collects" a Labubu and contributes to their score. At the end, their total number of collected Labubus is shown and compared on a leaderboard. The game begins when the user taps on their screen and the game ends when the timer runs out.
I inserted my custom logo and Gif into the intro screen to orient the user to the game. Using the 2-D screen editor, I was able to move the assets around to where they would fit best.
The user can tap to interact with the game by tapping the animated Labubu Gif to "collect" the item.
Using the scoreboard template in lens studio as a base, I leveraged the platform’s scripting capabilities to create game logic. The user first sees the intro screen, then the game page (called timer), followed by the results page.
Through a process of trial and error in Lens Studio, I was able to create and refine a custom background texture for Labubu to play in.
I wanted to create a full sensory experience that would pull users into the whimsical, chaotic world of Labubu, not just through visuals, but also with sound. To do this, I imported the Labubu theme song into Snap Lens Studio, attached it to a Speaker component, and triggered playback to ensure it played throughout the game.
Creating The Labubu Rush was a journey that blended creativity, technical skill, and a deep dive into the collectable craze that has taken over pop culture. From designing a playful, eye-catching logo in Adobe Illustrator to developing the interactive gameplay mechanics in Snap Lens Studio using tap behaviors, tween scripts, and sound integration, every step was about bringing the chaotic charm of Labubu to life. I wanted users to feel like they were part of the collectable hunt—chasing rare characters, driven by surprise and delight. By combining immersive visuals, quirky audio, and responsive interaction, The Labubu Rush became more than just a lens—it became a miniature world where fans could feel the excitement of the chase, right from their phones.
Working on this Snap Lens project taught me a lot about combining technical tools with creative storytelling. I learned how to use scripts and behaviors in Lens Studio to build interactive elements, and how sound and visuals can work together to create a more immersive experience. It also pushed me to think about user engagement—how to surprise, delight, and invite people into a playful, collectible-inspired world like Labubu’s. Overall, it deepened my understanding of interactive design and the power of small details.