For this book, I want to explore the often-overlooked ephemera of identity: the expired passport collecting dust in a box, the birth certificate everyone owns but rarely uses. These fragments of paper hold so much weight, yet they receive so little care or attention. This project is my way of examining how we prove we exist, at least on paper.
7 weeks, Fall 2025
Sole Designer
Since I was born, I’ve been a dual citizen, though I’ve always known that wouldn’t last forever. Under Korean law, American dual citizens automatically lose their Korean citizenship by age 22 unless they renounce their American one or undergo the lengthy process to apply to retain it. As that deadline gets closer, I’ve realized I can’t afford to give up my U.S. citizenship.
Still, the idea of losing something that’s been such a central part of who I am has been quietly looming in the back of my mind. That feeling, along with the growing conversations around citizenship and the paperwork that defines it, inspired this project.
Ultimately, I’m really proud of the final result. It’s deeply rewarding to have a tangible artifact in my hands that represents all the work put in over the course of this semester. Thank you to everyone who offered feedback and critique at each iteration of the book and helped guide the process of bringing it to life. This topic is incredibly close to my heart and feels more important than ever to engage with in our current social moment. I hope this small book offers perspective and fosters empathy for readers, whether or not they have personal experience with immigration and documentation, and encourages reflection on how these systems shape identity and lived experience.