In response to my own conflicts and navigation of a mixed cultural identity, I set out to explore how others experience belonging, disconnection, and cultural transmission across generations. Sitting at the intersection of visual ethnography, data storytelling, and cultural research, this BDes thesis gathers the voices of 21 participants from diverse backgrounds across Toronto, each reflecting on how culture has shaped their identity. In the Grey serves as both a space for personal reconciliation and collective understanding. 

By mapping the nuances between self and belonging, I translated personal reflections into data-driven visualizations that give form and meaning to lived experience. The final thesis consists of two parts: a generative visual series, and an accompanying publication, In the Grey, that provides narrative context, personal interpretation, and deeper insight into the experiences behind each form.