Graphic Assimilation: New Immigrants and Social Identity

Abstract

Delivery of essential social service information to immigrant groups in the United States raises issues of language, cultural imagery, social status and identity. Two perspectives on these issues are offered. From a formal viewpoint, theories of materiality of meaning and the construction of social identity provide insight regarding perception of identity based on representation in print publications. From a grassroots viewpoint, Hmong and Somali focus group discussions explore the character and practical nature of information available to their respective communities. The goal of the paper is to explore appropriate design strategies for bilingual communication for new (Somali) and more integrated (Hmong) residents of Minnesota.