What is Asylum?

  • Made By CUP With:
  • Community Partners
  • Tags:
  • Immigration

Tens of thousands of migrants arrive in the United States each year seeking protection from persecution in their native country. The US government is obliged to offer asylum to those who can prove they need protecting, allowing refugees to start a new life. However, not everyone who is eligible for asylum ends up receiving it. The asylum process is often dangerously misunderstood, and false information is commonly provided to asylum seekers, jeopardizing their chance for a new life. How does the asylum process work? Who can asylum seekers turn to for help?

The project team discussing final design changes at a meeting.

CUP teamed up with The Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture (PSOT) and design studio Bardo Industries to create What is asylum?, a trilingual fold-out poster in English, Spanish, and French. The illustrated poster guides asylum seekers— many of whom have limited English and literacy skills— step-by-step through the difficult process of receiving asylum, and provides information about other resources they can turn to for assistance.

What is asylum? launched at a training session for new and prospective clients at PSOT. Thousands of copies of the guide will also be distributed through their network of partner organizations.

"When we had preliminary testing sessions with the potential users, the feedback was really emotional. They were so grateful about the project, which was an immediate reward. That was the most rewarding thing, seeing that interaction with the actual users." -Roberto Bernasconi, Designer

The project team discussing final design changes at a meeting.
What is asylum? launched at a training session for asylum seekers at the offices of the Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture.

Check out the Project

What is asylum? unfolds from a 2 page spread into a poster.

Download a Free Copy

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Project Collaborators

Advocacy Partner

Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture

Nicole Attar

John Wilkinson

Amanda Winchester


Special Thanks

Komi Dotsa, Clinton Doumbia, Meredith Fortin, Kemah George, Ingrid Haftel, Nick Johnson, Delpech Massengo, Hawthorne E. Smith, Mark Torrey, Jean-Pierre Tshilumba, Moussa Youla

Product Details

8 × 11 color pamphlet; unfolds to 22″ × 32″ poster

Funding Support

Support for this project was provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.