AIYA is an interactive card game designed to bridge conversations between AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) children and their parents, centered around themes of dreams, love, memories, actions, and growth. It creates a gentle, inviting space to explore mental health with trust, vulnerability, and family at its core.

The name “AIYA” comes from a common way to express dismay, exasperation, or shock that many AANHPI (usually rooted in south-eastern and/or central Asia like Vietnam, Singapore, China, etc.) to express their feelings.

For example, “Aiya, you’re sick again?”

Therefore, I chose the name because talking about mental health or more personal questions can be taboo. It may almost be natural to say aiya…

Mental health is often stigmatized and deeply intimate. AIYA turns difficult topics into approachable conversations that foster connection and mutual understanding.

AANHPIs ranks lowest in prescription usage, inpatient/outpatient services, and general mental health service usage. this is due to the fact that the topic of mental health holds a social stigma amongst the community that labels those with a mental illness as shameful or weak (Racial/Ethnic Differences in Mental Health Service Use Among Adults, 2015).

Consequently, the mental health stigma is frequently found amongst second-generation AAPI young adults (children of immigrants) who, due to familial expectations regarding responsibilities, academics, and career, experience higher rates of emotional disorders. these mental health challenges for the demographic are often compounded by factors such as language barriers, lack of support, generational gaps between parent and child, and the struggled to assimilate to both American and traditional culture. If these challenges are not managed or addressed, second generation AAPI young adults can struggle with developing their bicultural identity, encounter great cognitive distress, and face suicidal thoughts (Mental Health by the Numbers, 2022).

Second-generation AAPI young adults encounter stressors within their lifetime that can be difficult to navigate. as their parents immigrated and/or fled their home country to the United States, they brought their cultural traditions, values, and teachings that they have known their whole life. for their child, their acculturation can pressure them to assimilate their American and traditional lives. the difficulties that the second-generation population face lack recognition and are often not addressed at home. hardships such as acculturation and stoicism become everyday challenges. stoicism is a common theme in Asian culture as parents influence their kids to only seek help when their hardships become intolerable. Parents often do this unknowingly as they endured tough and challenging times during immigration, believing that doing so will make one stronger.

LOGO: Inspired by traditional Chinese and Japanese signature stamps, the AIYA logo evokes that mark-you-leave-on-history feeling. I chose rich red, not danger, but luck, joy, and warmth (per cultural symbolism). To prevent rigidity, I circled the type; the round form speaks to balance, healing, and completion.

CARDS: Each card bursts with color and features Vietnamese cultural elements, think Áo Dài, rice paddy workers, bánh treats. Themes are organized by depth, "warm," "hot," or "piping," and indicated visually through richer reds and ascending steam bowls. I incorporated these levels as a visualizer of how deep questions may get, and instead of using fire, food is such a key factor in bringing families together, so I used a hot bowl (of whatever the player’s heart desires).

But most importantly, each card is bilingual (Vietnamese and English), creating space for connection across generations. This will allow parents, family members, and friends to be able to read and understand on their own pace without the pressure of translating the question, which is something that many second-generation AANHPI children may have a hard time with, especially if there is a language barrier.

There’s no shortage of card games but few invite meaningful dialogue with warmth. Existing games lean formal and minimal, geared toward couples or traditional family dynamics. AIYA disrupts that: it’s playful, culturally rooted, and emotionally vibrant.

AIYA blends culture, clarity, and care. The bold palette speaks emotionally and the thoughtful bilingual design invites empathy and inclusivity. It's creative storytelling crafted into every card, and a design identity rooted in connection and community. There are many hand-drawn elements within the cards that relate to Vietnamese culture and can bring a sense of home, familiarity, and acknowledgement to the players.