Engaging with its intended communities, this project opened up conversations around Third Culture Kids (TCK) identity that would benefit both TCKs and monoculture individuals. TCKs—especially those who are not aware of this shared identity, generally feel affirmed of their experiences and fosters a sense of community. It also surfaced processes of reflection and grieving, helping participants better understand their experiences, making them more proud of their heritage and reduce chances of depression in the long run. For monoculture individuals, they can be made aware of the presence of TCK identities in communities where they are usually invisible. The project hopes to build empathy to both sides.
The project was presented to nine individuals: three from the Graphic Communication Design (GCD) community and six external participants, including friends, strangers, individuals with cross-cultural experience, and a sociologist, Dr. Jemina Watstein. Participants engaged with a sculptural installation of interlocking postcards featuring RISO illustrations and handwritten narratives. Physical interaction—handling, assembling, and reading the postcards—was central to understanding the work.
Feedback was gathered through structured prompts exploring first impressions, reactions after explanation, and reflections after engaging with the work. Overall, participants clearly understood the postcard format and recognised the cross-cultural narratives. While the construction system was not always immediately intuitive, it became clearer when demonstrated. TCK participants responded strongly, often recalling personal memories and sharing their own stories. Those less familiar with TCK identity found the project helpful in articulating a previously unrecognised experience.
The respondents’ reactions varied according to their backgrounds. TCKs who knew about the project, and knew about their identity, responded positively to seeing various fragments connect together. Generally, it elicited memories deep within and they shared them vigorously to me. A TCK that was not aware of this group identity was found it very interesting that this project gave them a structure that they always had a difficulty putting a finger on. Then Mono-culture individuals and those who grew up in one country, mentioned how it was interesting that different fragments who don’t seem to relate to each other can connect through narrative and international experiences.
There were some who felt bittersweet looking at fragment 3: Perceived, where they commented how it was as if whatever she felt of their valuable personal fragment was trampled over by other people who don’t understand, reminding them of the rejection and stereotyping resulting from labeling. These responses highlight an ethical consideration: how to represent loss and tension without oversimplifying or diminishing the complexity of TCK experiences. On the other hand, TCK respondents who seem to be at peace with their experience described how despite the labelings, they hold an open mind and understanding as core values for different cultures to connect.
One respondent noted that a TCK’s sense of place is always, to some degree, foreign. Rather than locating their primary allegiance within a fixed community, TCKs tend to orient themselves toward the local contexts they inhabit. At the same time, connection with other TCKs provides a reflective space that strengthens their understanding of self, enabling them to engage more meaningfully with those local communities.
The interlocking structure of the postcards was particularly effective in communicating identity as something constructed through fragments. It prompted participants to reconsider cultural dynamics as relational rather than fixed.
Looking forward, further exploration could examine the emotional cost of transition—what TCKs leave behind in order to adapt. Discussions with Dr. Watstein also raised questions of scale and mobility: while TCKs often carry small, portable fragments with them, larger cultural elements are left behind. These absences may offer another way of understanding memory, loss, and identity.