About Common Thread
Designed by Catherine Li, B.F.A. in Design
Common Thread is a bilingual board game and reflection journal for immigrant families to strengthen emotional communication. Through guided prompts and lighthearted activities, it creates a structured yet playful space for families to connect and share stories, emotions, and traditions that are often left unspoken.
Players roll, move, and draw prompt cards that encourage conversation, language sharing, or playful interaction. Completing prompts earns tokens, shaping the game’s flow. The experience ends with a shared reflection in a companion journal, allowing families to document memories and continue the connection beyond gameplay.
Common Thread treats family connection as an ongoing, shared ritual rather than a one-time conversation. By combining culturally-grounded play with reflecting and archiving, it lowers emotional barriers, supports gradual vulnerability, and serves as a starting point for Chinese immigrant families to reconnect across cultural gaps.
