Masks for Unity went live on Instagram in early May. The uplifting, anti-racist AR face filters, combined with the ease of sharing them widely through Instagram stories with hashtags like #FlattentheHate, helped the initiative go viral—they now have over 11,000 followers.

The @MasksforUnity Instagram also features students' testimonials about experiencing racism and the campaign's impact. "My students who were attacked during the pandemic have told me numerous times that they felt so empowered and touched to see this campaign grow," Chung says. "It healed their wounds and it reminded them art is their greatest power."

As an added benefit, students who participated in the project were able to collaborate and learn from design industry leaders. Chung says her students were thrilled at the opportunity, which "geared [them] to design professionally and strategically."

Features