asian american federation!

Being asked “where are you really from” is yet another way the AAPI community can be made to feel othered by people in their own hometown.

In response, we flipped the question around, and created a travel poster inspired series, “I’m REALLY From” to instead, champion belonging. We interviewed 10 Asian Americans from NYC and other cities around the United States and paired them each with an illustrator to depict the cities they grew up in with the vibrancy, color and joy they deserve.

Each poster is filled to the brim with details our interviewees shared about their hometowns, memories, family traditions, and elements they associate with home.
Awarded a Yellow Pencil at D&AD 2022 and a Gold Pencil at The One Show 2022

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Eva Chen is a Taiwanese-American children’s book author and Head of Fashion Partnerships at Instagram whose life and times in Manhattan have earned the adoration millions around the globe.

She’s really from New York City.

Illustrated by

Sophie Diao

On Instagram, we dove deeper into the stories of our subjects, their perspective on the question “where are you really from?”, and the details that can be found in their posters that were taken from their lived experiences.

After every Instagram In-Feed post, we concurrently uploaded Instagram Stories detailing the items and locales that make home home for our interviewees.

Noel Quintana is a Filipino-American New Yorker who has shown resilience and joy even after surviving a racially-charged hate crime at the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic.

He’s really from New York City.

Illustrated BY

Lydia Ortiz

Instagram In-Feed Carousel

Instagram Story

Apolo Ohno is a decorated former Olympic Speed Skater and Japanese-American who grew up under the loving guidance of his father.

He’s really from Seattle.

Illustrated by

Bianca Austria

Instagram Carousel

Instagram Story

Christina Mui was born and raised in New York City and growing up at several intersections of identity while being heavily involved in volunteering in Chinatown.

She’s really from New York City.

Illustrated by

Deborah Lee

Instagram Carousel

Instagram Story

To see the full project, click here