The Nikkei Student Union (NSU) at UCLA hosts an annual Cultural Night at Royce Hall, traditionally held around February 19th to coincide with the signing of Executive Order 9066 in 1942. The production showcases various talents unified by a cultural theme, providing a fresh perspective on Japanese American culture. This year's production aims to explore the impact of cultural and historical influences on the development of Japanese American families.
During my time at UCLA, I volunteered as a graphic designer for several NSU Cultural Nights. I designed flyers for distribution on Bruin Walk and throughout the community in Westwood and Little Tokyo. Additionally, I created the program handed out to attendees, which included information on the synopsis, drama cast, and performance groups. As a Japanese American, it was a pleasure to design for the NSU Cultural Nights as the stories and themes were relevant to my own experiences.
The examples below are the most relevant designs.
2015 | Worlds Apart
My design for the program and flyer was inspired by the story of a brother and sister's difficult experiences in Japan and the United States during World War II. The design features a teddy bear motif, symbolizing the emotional connection between family members despite physical separation due to the war.
2016 | Senbazuru
My design for the program and flyer was inspired by the story of college students who saved the Little Tokyo Village Plaza from demolition. Little Tokyo is a historic Japanese enclave located in Downtown Los Angeles that holds great meaning for the Japanese American community. There are several unique landmarks in Little Tokyo, such as the Japanese Village Plaza, yagura (tower), Japanese American National Museum (JANM), Go For Broke monument, and many more. It's crucial for younger generations to understand the significance of these monuments and buildings so that they can be preserved for the future.
