Joshua Lowe

Generational Shifts

Generational Shifts is a publication exploring the evolving identity of Kiwi-born Chinese across three generations. Structured into three distinct sections—Grandfather, Father, and Son—the book uses period-specific design to capture each era's unique experiences and challenges. The Grandfather section adopts a newspaper layout, representing the early Chinese immigrants facing cultural isolation and discrimination in New Zealand in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Father section embraces mid-century design, reflecting the working-class values of the generation that ran small family businesses, balancing cultural preservation with pressures to assimilate. Finally, the Son section takes a modern, minimalist approach, mirroring the younger generation's navigation of a multicultural world where traditional identity can feel fragmented. Using interviews, archival images, and personal stories, Generational Shifts looks at how identity evolves within the Chinese New Zealand community, highlighting the importance of cultural continuity and adaptation.