At The Academy, we love seeing students take their learning beyond The Loft and into the real world. That’s exactly what Xinyi Zhang did when she transformed a personal conversation into an impactful, multicultural board game called Sea My Culture.
Xinyi’s journey with us began during her first year as a PhD student in Psychology, when she participated in the Academy’s Graduate Innovation Fellowship, taught by Brooke Smith and Mira Azarm. Inspired by design thinking, prototyping, navigating constraints, and brainstorming, she went on to become a peer innovation coach, guiding students through creative problem-solving techniques. Little did she know that these very skills would later help her develop a game designed to foster cultural understanding and social-emotional learning (SEL) in children.
The idea for Sea My Culture was sparked by a conversation with her friend and fellow Psychology student, Mazneen. One day, Mazneen shared a troubling story that her third-grade son, Kayezad, had been teased at school for bringing his favorite Indian dish, khichdi-kheemo, in his lunchbox. In response to the teasing, he asked his mom if she could pack him sandwiches instead, hoping to avoid further ridicule. Mazneen was torn; she wanted to teach her son to take pride in his culture, but she also didn’t want him to feel excluded. As she recounted the story to Xinyi, it struck a chord.
Xinyi couldn’t shake the thought: Why should a child feel ashamed of their own culture? And how do we teach kids to celebrate differences rather than mock them?
Then, an idea clicked. What if there was a game that made learning about different cultures fun and interactive? Drawing on her love for board games and human-centered design, Xinyi quickly sketched out an early concept in her IDEA course design notebook. What started as a simple low-resolution sketch soon transformed into a dynamic island journey board game, where players navigate challenges, earn power-ups through foods from different cultures, and explore personal experiences through "What Would You Do?" cards (scenarios designed to build empathy and empower children to be change agents in their own communities).
Through continuous testing and feedback from children, parents, educators, and school counselors, Sea My Culture has evolved into an engaging, accessible tool for classrooms. Kayezad himself has played a key role in its development, designing wild cards that introduce natural disasters and obstacles to spark collaboration and problem-solving. Since its launch, Sea My Culture has been played in multiple classrooms, earning praise from educators and students alike, and even landing a feature in The Diamondback!
As Xinyi continues to refine the game, including experimenting with collaborative and competitive elements, she remains dedicated to creating a playful, interactive experience that encourages children to take pride in their multicultural identities.
Xinyi’s journey with Sea My Culture is a powerful example of how innovation, empathy, and design can turn a real-world challenge into an engaging, meaningful solution; the very mindset we champion at The Academy. We’re incredibly proud to see her work making an impact and can’t wait to see where Sea My Culture goes next!
What’s next for Xinyi and Sea My Culture? The planned launch of a Kickstarter campaign this summer! Right now, she’s looking for support from individuals with videography and social media expertise, and is even offering compensation for the time and effort.
If you or someone you know might be interested in learning more about Sea My Culture or ways to help support the campaign, connect with Xinyi and explore how play can shape a more inclusive world!