05.26.22
Hiding in plain site.
I rarely share this story, but what the heck. When my co-founders, Pritsana and Rika, and I founded the studio in 2005 we created our first portfolio by combining our individual books of work to represent what we could do as a collective. Our experiences came from the branding, advertising, and art worlds. And though we had worked with “large” agencies who worked on household brands, we also each had a spot in our individual portfolios which including work for Asian, Pacific Islander, and Asian Pacific Islander American clients.
Yet we intentionally tried to not show so much of that work in our early years because we did want to be known as the “Asian studio that does Asian work”. We also didn’t want to be presumed to be a multicultural or ethnic agency. And it doesn’t help when studies found that Asian last names lead to fewer job interviews. We were basically toddlers hiding while wanting to be found.
01.18.22
Wow.
The last time we sent a newsletter was December 9, 2011. Our team has evolved and we’ve moved twice. In 2013, we moved the studio into Tom Noonan's Paradise Factory. Then in 2016 we moved across the river to Jersey City’s Powerhouse Arts District into the Modera Lofts. And here we are at the top of 2022 looking forward to reconnecting with so many of you.
First. Happy New Year! The year of the tiger is upon us and it will be about making big changes. This will be a year of risk-taking and adventure for many of us. With the last two years being much about mental and physical survival, recalibrating our daily lives, reconnecting with love, and embracing self reflection it is time to unleash the fired up tiger within. I wish you all the energy and support you need to move your to-do’s to done.