Interject
Creating conversations and building thought leadership about the Asian American voice, experience and influence in the global context.
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I’m From Japan And I Speak English With An American Accent.
Many people are surprised to hear that despite the American accent, Nonju was born & raised in Japan.
Read moreIs This Brand Racist? A Look at Colorism in Advertising.
Asian Americans are not a monolith, but if you'd look at how advertisers & the media treat us, you might think we are.
Read more100% Hapa and Proud
Growing up with a Japanese mother and a Caucasian father, auther Steven Hoffman always felt a bit different.
Read moreTikTok, Benevolent ruler or Despot? The Content Creator’s Perspective
TikTok is great for new content creators trying to get discovered. Making a living off the platform though? Not so much.
Read more5 Asian-Founded Businesses That Changed My Life
At $863.3 billion, Asian-owned businesses have the largest estimated gross income among minority race groups across all sectors. Through Asian Founded, we hope to make it easier to #shopAPI.
Read moreKorean culture is getting mainstream. As a Korean-American, it’s complicated
Korean Culture has boomed on the scene, but for this Korean American the experience is more complex. Esther discusses the Korean culture boom and how it has impacted her personally.
Read moreEverything you wanted to know about NFTs but didn’t know who to ask
The world of millennials goes beyond IRL. “Metaverse” is not just a website or app — it’s also a world they inhabit. Crypto is not pixels on a screen — it’s also a way to pay. Now, NFTs are assets to be acquired. We’re attempting to make NFTs easier to understand — in Q&A format.
Read moreChanging the Game and Bringing Diversity to Bookshelves - An Interview with Mia Wenjen
Through her writing, Mia Wenjen brought more diversity to classrooms and founded the Multicultural Children’s Book Day.
Read moreMeritocracy v. Diversity — The Controversy Affecting Asian-Americans in College Admissions
Asian-Americans, often labeled the simultaneously enviable and harmful “model minority,” are increasingly caught in-between rigorous college admission practices and debates on affirmative action.
Read moreHappy Diwali! Here’s the lore behind 3 of the most popular South Asian Dishes
Held in some of the darkest months of the year, Diwali is held as both a way to lift the people’s spirit and celebrate the triumph of light over dark. Jigesh's family is scattered right now, and travel is dicey due to Covid, but he thought he could get closer to the light of his culture by learning & sharing the history behind some of its greatest cultural exports.
Read moreShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - Syllabus & Discussion Guide
The movie launch of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has been celebrated by Asian Americans with the first ever Asian superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As we talk about promoting the idea of narrative plenitude and bringing more Asian stories to the forefront, this is an exciting and proud moment.
Read moreAsian-Americans in Hollywood: 1970s-2010s Moving Towards More Representation
In 1968, the term “Asian American” was coined, intended to unite those who shared any Asian ancestry while living in America. While there are over fifty countries in Asia and hundreds of unique cultures, the term “Asian American” helped mobilize change by bringing everyone together to work towards shared goals. During the 70s, perceptions of Asians and Asian-Americans began to shift as they became more visible in society.
Read moreMaintaining Vigor for Sustained Change in Asian American Issues
Reflecting back on her activism to fight for ethnic studies at her university more than 50 years ago, Laureen Chew talks about what we can learn and where we still need to go.
Read moreDesigning a Succesful Internship Program
Intertrend prides itself in creating a culture of opportunity. We strive to think outside the box, learn constantly, and pioneer changes around us. ITO is Intertrend’s annual summer internship program, which was founded in 2014, and has grown in reputation and ambition since then.
Read moreCouriers of Hope Interview Series: Artists Talk Art
What inspired their work in the Port City Creative Guild envelope art exhibition and what hope means to them
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Forward, Together: Addressing Anti-Asian Hate and Systemic Racism
A 3AF townhall on the subject of violence towards Asian Americans
Read moreOur Heartfelt Gift to Long Beach
"Twas the Night Before Christmas" Holiday Window in Downtown Long Beach by Intertrend
Read moreSharing Blood, Not Politics
How I Politically Debate My Vietnamese Immigrant Father and Keep a Loving Relationship
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What Role Does Design Play in Elections?
It’s almost November and things are starting to get tense in the States as final preparations are being made for the presidential election…
Totes Paris: A Dog’s Travel Guide
A dog’s travel guide to Paris, French culture and language published by Rosanne Kang Jovanovski, Executive Creative Director at Intertrend.
Read moreLeveraging the Power of Music to Connect With Asian Americans & Beyond
The power of music offers comfort, inspiration, and community. The Pandora and Intertrend Asian American User Study reinforces that.
Read moreIt All Adds Up — A Recap of Unexpected Connections 2020
UC 2020 was a livestream fundraising event this year bringing together inventive people thinking across industries, making positive change.
Read moreAsian Americans in Hollywood: The Effects of 20th Century Stereotypes
Hollywood movies in the 1900s containing stereotypes like the Lotus Blossom and Fu Manchu continue to affect how Asian Americans are seen.
Read moreWorking From Home: How 3AF Members Are Getting It All Done During COVID-19
Cheryl Lee, Executive Director of Intertrend, and Javier Ortiz, General Sales Manager of KTSF-TV, discuss strategies for working from home.
Read more6 Things to Play in the Background While You WFH
As many of us continue to navigate the extended work from home world, we thought we'd take a moment to explore ways in which we can set up…
Read moreThe Anti-Asian Racism During the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Everything to Do with Black Lives Matter
The COVID-19 pandemic is revealing what we can do to fight the systemic injustices that have existed against people of color (POC).
Read more20/20 Vision: Trends to Help Make Sense of the New Normal
In order for businesses and agencies to confidently navigate and adapt to our new reality, we need to stay up to date with the latest trends by keeping a close pulse on how consumer needs are being altered. Here are our thoughts.
Read moreBreaking Out of Narrative Scarcity
Narrative scarcity always felt personal.
Read morePatience School - Lessons From the Tiger Parenting Resistant
Amidst the merits and criticisms of “Tiger parenting” philosophies in a hyper competitive world, as a third and fourth generation Chinese American, Tanya reflects about the agony of raising kids with the gravitational pull of Asian DNA versus Wholehearted parenting.
Read moreMusic for Being Seen, Heard, and Felt An interview with Rod Labrador of Pau Hana Sessions
Last February, Intertrend hosted a Pau Hana Sessions event at the Edison Theatre in Long Beach, featuring the Emmy-nominated artist Hollis. Although this was the first time they showcased in Long Beach, Pau Hana Sessions is a staple around Hawai’i. They showcase a side of Hawai’i music that isn’t seen by many non-natives.
Read more5 Intriguing Things that Celebrate Specificity
This batch of Intrigue selections celebrate specificity and understanding parts of the world in tighter focus. Included below are recommendations that dive deeply into the realms of mental health, Singaporean graveyards, American influence in Korea, writing self-critically, and the Toronto music scene.
Read moreLessons from the “Fringes”: Trump, Yang, and the Asian American Young Voter
Problematic use of stereotypes aside, Andrew Yang’s trusty line — “The opposite of Donald Trump is an Asian man who likes math” — couldn’t be more right or wrong depending on how you look at it.
Read moreUrging People to Take a Leap of Faith First (Trust part comes later)
Democrats: You can’t bet on our vote
Millennials and Gen-Zs, or what we like to call “MilleniGenZs,” are politically aware and notoriously socially progressive. Given that the youth generally lean left, many Democrats view MilleniGenZ as part of their core voter base and, especially in a blue state like California, often treat them as a foregone conclusion. However, recent survey results show that they may not vote in the way Democratic hopefuls want them to in 2020.
Read more5 Product Innovations from Asia
Today, technology in Asia is innovating at an exponential rate and this not only applies to digital, but physical products as well. In this article, we highlight five product innovations from Asia in 2019.
Read moreAsian Americans in Pop Culture: Past, Present, & Future
Back in April, we had a fun, provocative, and interactive discussion at the agency as we kicked off our Thought Leadership initiative. Our discussion centered around Asian Americans in media and was moderated by Guests: Anthony C. Ocampo, Ph.D. and Nancy Wang Yuen, Ph.D.--two major scholars in the field of Asian American Studies.
Read more5 Asian Food Trends Hitting Mainstream Palates
Social Snippet: Dave Chang
In the 11/29/18 “The Dave Chang Show” podcast, Dave talks to Director Jon Chu about his movie, Crazy Rich Asians.
Read moreA Dish Best Served Racist? A Deep Dive Into Tastebuds, Food Culture, and Our Prejudices.
A plate is more than its presentation. Dive into the hidden meanings in Food & how our culture interacts with it, with Derek Escano
Read moreMy 2022 KCON Recap
What makes KCON so great? Read why Melanie calls it one of the Top 5 moments of her life.
Read moreWhat Chinese Herbal Medicine Taught Me About My Identity
Growing up Asian-American, Millie Lao found herself leaning more into her American side of her identity while feeling shame towards her Asian side. Until she had an epiphany.
Read moreThis is what our Asian-American colleagues thought of “Everything, Everywhere All at Once”
“Everything, Everywhere All at Once” was not only a hallmark of Asian representation, but how do those living the Asian-American experience, feel about the film?
Read moreCreating Art through Pain
My Do created an all Asian cast film this past year based on his own story with his family, trauma and healing. The month of May is not only the Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month, but also Mental Health Awareness Month. And we are learning how connected these two can actually be within the AAPI community.
Read more90 Percent of NFTs in the Market Will Disappear Within a Month
Why 90 Percent of NFTs in the Market Will Disappear Within a Month? From our own Sam Kuo's point of view.
Read moreMy Top 5 Ads from Super Bowl LVI
While most consumers were filling their stomachs, arguing about the penalty calls, or creating memes about 50 cent hanging upside down like Spiderman in last Sunday’s Super Bowl LVI, most of us advertisers had our eyes glued to the screen watching the commercials between breaks and at halftime.
Read moreAfter I came out, my Chinese mother still loved me
For those of us not fortunate enough to have parents who grew up in cultures that know and understand queer people, the process will not be simple. But that doesn’t mean that it’s not worth it or that it’s full of pain; in fact, Ian and his Mom had found themselves having more honest conversations than ever, which has made them closer. Ian's coming out story actually ends in love.
Read moreAsian-Americans in Hollywood: Late 2010’s and Beyond, A Golden Age of Representation
This is the final article of the 3 part series on "Asian-Americans in Hollywood" by our guest writer Charissa Yuen. We as Asian American has finally get to the Golden Age of Representation.
Read moreMy name is not “Chino”
The best way to celebrate this National Hispanic Heritage Month is to acknowledge just how diverse the Hispanic diaspora really is. In the process of reducing Hispanic culture to something palatable, our existence has been obscured. This erasure robs the rest of the world from understanding just how rich and diverse Hispanic culture actually is.
Read moreTHE BIGGEST SPORT YOU’VE BARELY HEARD OF
The second most popular sport in the world has a growing U.S. audience, giving brands the opportunity to reach an untapped market.
Read moreNot Your Typical Asian
Most people’s number one fear is public speaking. For Derek, it’s math.
Read moreThe Asian Indian Consumer: Hidden in Plain Sight
The past ten years have seen a steady growth in the Asian Indian segment.
Today, this 4.2 million strong segment leads the Asian group in median household income and
education parameters. That by itself should make some marketers sit up and take notice. But is that all there is to Asian Indians?
Dear Racist Teacher
Asian American students’ experiences are often forgotten and unheard. Read Philip's letter to the past.
Read moreSolidarity against Anti-Asian Violence by action, beyond hashtags
(Op-Ed written for Campaign US)
Read moreHow Many ?
Intertrend is going to be in the NYTimes and LATimes this Sunday. I am personally calling for the attention it deserves.
Read moreHappy Year of the 00X!
Intertrend's Lunar New Year window installations celebrate the Spring Festval and start the year with fun and good luck.
Read moreMichelle Park Embodies Asian-led Stories On Screen and Off
Q&A with Actor Michelle Park
Read moreHow Black Lives Matter Made Me Understand My Family and My Culture Better
“Wow, we left home for this?!”
Honoring Notorious RBG One Scoop of Ice Cream at a Time
The idea for Honor Ruth ice cream came to us as we were mourning the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It’s difficult…
Gen Z Redefines “Asian American”
By now, you’ve probably heard at least one story about Generation Z — a group of unabashedly proud and passionate young people (born…
Asian American Millennials are Dispelling Model Minority Myths
Asian American millennials are confounding income, education, business ownership, and health stereotypes.
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The Chameleon: What Being Asian American Means to Me
Growing up I always felt like a chameleon: blending into the race of the majority of my friends. I didn’t realize the gravity of what that meant and what that said about my identity until I was hired at Intertrend, an advertising agency that specializes in speaking to an Asian American audience.
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Achieving Narrative Plenitude With Wakako Ichinose & Sakona Kong
“Narrative Plenitude” is a term coined by award-winning novelist, Viet Thanh Nguyen. He explains how Asian Americans live in an economy of narrative scarcity where mainstream culture distorts or erases us in stories. Feeling deprived of representation, we must fight to tell our own stories.
Read moreHow a single Facebook Group helped millions of diasporic Asian youth find their voice
With over 1.7 million followers, Subtle Asian Traits is a social media phenomenon that continues to bring diasporic Asian youth together from across the globe. Why did this occur and what is next for this viral group?
Read moreThe Secret to Bonding with Your Korean Dad
What do you do when you can’t seem to connect with your dad?
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Asian American Outlook. A Matter of Survival: Navigating Media During the COVID-19 Pandemic
COVID-19 is a viral disease and a viral subject. It has dominated traditional news reporting, infiltrated all sectors of topical publishing, and is the main theme on social media.
Read moreDo you see me?
Growing up as a 1.5 generation Asian American, Mary’s life was significantly different than others. She was the bridge-builder for her parents to the new environment and an outcast that was often being yelled “go back to where you came from”. The feeling of alienation and marginalization was always framed around her immigrant Asian identity until one day, she finally woke up...
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Intertrend Creative Complex Opens its Doors
Last month, we hosted a series of events during the California Democratic Presidential Forum including a live podcast of “They Call Us Bruce” at our newly renovated Edison Theatre and Psychic Temple.
Read moreA Night with Rupi Kaur
The young poet glides onto the stage with a crown upon her head and silk gown flowing in the wind she creates when she walks, her heels announcing her presence before she is visible.
Read moreWhy 88Rising is the Next Big Wave in Pop Culture from Asia
Growing up a hip-hop fan in the ‘90s, Sean Miyashiro was waiting for artists that looked like him and break into the scene. Fast forward to 2015, Miyashiro founded 88rising and created a platform for Asian talent to be recognized and celebrated globally in the hip-hop genre. From signing Keith Ape whose breakout single “It G Ma” made history in the Asian rap scene to Indonesian rapper, Rich Brian’s viral single with “Dat $tick” in early 2016, 88rising has gained fans all over the world. The company further secured its audience with its roster of breakthrough artists from Indonesia, South Korea, China, Vietnam and Canada.
Read moreInterPress: The Art of Bloom
The Art of Bloom is Long Beach's first immersive pop-up exhibit.
Read moreTop 3 Reasons Why Asian Americans Are Every Credit Card Company's Dream
We sum it up in three reasons why Asian Americans are every credit card companies’ dream.
Read moreWho Has the Biggest Wallet?
Share of wallet is a marketing term that denotes the amount of spend a business can expect from a specific customer. We break down below the shares of wallet attributed to each major ethnic segment in the US.
