Hayzel Mary Rose Sionepeni Ah Kuoi

What Comes To Mind? Is a project responding to the uncertainty some young Samoans born in New Zealand experience when engaging with their cultural identity. Cultural conversations can feel intimidating when people feel they lack the knowledge to participate. This project asks: How might user centred design encourage conversations around cultural belonging and intergenerational connection through storytelling with familiar illustrated objects?

A practice led, iterative approach combined contextual research, case study analysis, visual experimentation, prototyping, playtesting, and reflection to develop a physical conversation card game. The game features 40 illustrated everyday objects, colour coded prompts and describing and guessing mechanic that encourages players to share memories, personal associations and experiences.

The project explores how familiar objects and playful interaction can provide accessible and low pressure starting points for cultural conversations without requiring prior cultural knowledge or prescribing what cultural connection should look like. The final outcomes include the card deck, instructions, packaging, social media content, and miniature clay keepsakes. What Comes To Mind? Demonstrates the potential of physical design to create opportunities for storytelling and cultural connection through everyday experiences