TECNO and Angélica Dass Launch a Global Portrait Project Revealing 100 Stories of Human Identity and Growth

In a world where artificial intelligence is changing the way people are seen, represented, and understood, one important question is becoming harder to ignore: how can technology capture the true depth of human identity?

TECNO believes the answer begins with seeing people as they truly are.

Together with Brazilian visual artist Angélica Dass, TECNO has launched “100 Portraits of Becoming,” a two-year global initiative designed to celebrate individuality, personal journeys, and the many ways people continue to grow and redefine themselves.

Beginning in Nairobi, Kenya, the project will create a living archive of 100 authentic portraits across five countries, highlighting real people, real stories, and the experiences that shape who they become.

Rather than reducing people to appearances, labels, or stereotypes, “100 Portraits of Becoming” aims to show the complexity behind every face and remind the world that every person carries a story that deserves to be seen.

A New Conversation About Humanity in the Age of AI

As AI-powered tools become increasingly common in photography and digital representation, questions about fairness and accuracy are gaining importance. Technology does not only capture images; it influences how people are perceived.

Through this collaboration, TECNO and Angélica Dass are exploring a deeper idea of representation, one that goes beyond technical accuracy and focuses on recognition.

“Every image shapes assumptions about why it matters, who matters, and how people are understood,” said Jack Guo, General Manager at TECNO. “In the AI era, representation must move beyond simply capturing appearances. It should help people feel truly seen and understood.”

According to Guo, the initiative reflects TECNO’s belief that technology should help remove bias and create more authentic connections between people.

“For us, truthful representation is the foundation of genuine human understanding,” he added.

For Angélica Dass, portraiture has always been about more than taking photographs. It is about creating a space where individuals can express themselves beyond expectations placed on them.

“As a photographer, I see myself as a channel that allows others to communicate and be seen on their own terms,” Dass said. “This initiative is not about defining people. It is about allowing identity to remain open, layered, and human.”

Angélica Dass and the Art of Seeing People Beyond Categories

The partnership builds on Angélica Dass’s lifelong exploration of identity, diversity, and human connection.

The award-winning Brazilian-Spanish artist is widely recognized for her global portrait series Humanæ, a project that challenges traditional ideas about race and skin color by presenting people as individuals rather than categories.

For Dass, skin tone is not simply a color. It represents personal identity, culture, history, and lived experience.

Her work has reached audiences around the world, including through her TED Talk on skin and identity, which has been viewed by millions. Her projects have also been presented by institutions and organizations such as the World Economic Forum, UNESCO, the American Museum of Natural History, the Migration Museum in London, and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

Through “100 Portraits of Becoming,” Dass continues her mission of using photography as a tool for understanding.

“A portrait is not only a record of someone’s appearance,” Dass explained. “It can question assumptions, challenge labels, and create space for people to be understood beyond stereotypes.”

One Hundred Portraits Sharing One Hundred Human Stories

Over the next two years, Angélica Dass will photograph 100 individuals across five countries, starting in Kenya.

Participants will be photographed in natural light, without filters, and wearing clothing they personally choose. The goal is simple: to create portraits that feel genuine and reflect each person’s individuality.

Alongside their portraits, participants will share stories about their personal growth, challenges, ambitions, and the moments that shaped their journeys.

These portraits and stories will become part of a digital “Living Archive,” a platform created to preserve personal narratives and encourage global conversations about identity, dignity, and representation.

The archive will serve as a reminder that behind every image is a person with a unique story.

TECNO Universal Tone Helps Capture Humanity More Accurately

The portraits created for the initiative will be captured using the TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra, powered by TECNO Universal Tone Technology.

This imaging technology was developed to address long-standing challenges in smartphone photography, where some skin tones have historically been inaccurately represented because of limitations in imaging algorithms and training data.

TECNO Universal Tone uses advanced AI-powered imaging technology supported by a multi-skin-tone color system featuring 372 skin tones and a large skin tone database.

The goal is not to adjust people toward a single standard of beauty or appearance. Instead, it helps preserve the natural details, tones, and characteristics that make every individual unique.

For “100 Portraits of Becoming,” this technology provides the foundation for creating portraits that represent people with greater accuracy and authenticity.

Why Kenya Became the Starting Point for a Global Human Story

The journey begins in Nairobi, Kenya, a country known for its young population, innovation, and growing influence in technology and entrepreneurship.

Often called the “Silicon Savannah,” Kenya has become a center for digital innovation, from mobile financial solutions to emerging businesses across industries.

However, global representation has not always reflected the country’s full complexity. Too often, people and places are viewed through limited narratives rather than their everyday realities.

“100 Portraits of Becoming” takes a different approach by allowing individuals to define themselves through their own voices.

The first portraits feature people from different walks of life, including entrepreneurs, farmers, artists, dancers, and creators whose stories cannot be summarized by a single description.

Among the participants is Alexander Odhiambo, co-founder of Solutech Limited, an enterprise software company serving manufacturers and distributors across Africa.

“People are always quick to tell you what you are and where you fit,” Odhiambo shared. “I stopped waiting for that. The story that counts is the one I’m writing myself.”

A Global Journey Celebrating Human Possibility

After Kenya, “100 Portraits of Becoming” will continue to the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Brazil, building a worldwide collection of stories that reflect different cultures, identities, and personal journeys.

The first portraits and stories will be published online in early August as the initiative expands globally.

At its heart, “100 Portraits of Becoming” is about more than photography. It is about creating a deeper understanding of humanity in a rapidly changing technological world.

The future of imaging is not only about seeing more clearly. It is about understanding people more completely.

Through technology, storytelling, and one hundred unique portraits, TECNO and Angélica Dass are creating a global reminder that every person is more than an image. Every person is a story still being written.