Project 01 - Secret Cousins Board Game
Brief
Secret Cousins is a custom board game I designed as a personalized version of the popular game Secret ______. Inspired by my trip to Australia, I reimagined the game around places we visited, things we did together, our favorite coffee shops, and countless inside jokes. The result is a unique, playful keepsake that reflects shared memories and family bonds. Created as a special wedding gift for my cousins, Secret Cousins transforms a familiar game into something deeply personal, celebrating connection, laughter, and the moments that brought us closer.
Playable Product
I haven’t produced a physical version yet, as I’d like to collaborate with my former employer, Dang Paddles, to craft durable wooden cards instead of settling for online prints. Stay tuned as I’ll update this as soon as they’re complete.
Artwork
The box artwork is filled with inside jokes and shared memories such as when we solved the escape room (The Cipher Room), to the Smiskis we unboxed, to late night board games (Wyrm Span), to our favorite dessert spot (Homm), and the daily ritual of of caffeine (Cotti Coffee).
Playable Boards
The original Secret ______ board features two sides: Fascists and Liberals. In my version, these were reimagined as Australians and Americans, with the artwork subtly altered to include our own inside jokes.
Player Cards
In the original Secret ______, the voting cards read “Ja!” and “Nein.” I redesigned them to say “Yeah!” and “Naur” a playful nod to how my cousins pronounce “no.” To make them even more personal, I added a Vietnamese border pattern, reflecting our shared heritage. I also reimagined the party membership cards to represent Australians and Americans, tying the whole theme together.
Expansion Boards
I also designed two additional Australian (Fascist) boards as expansion versions for 7–8 players and 9–10 players, while the American (Liberal) board remains the same for each game.
Reflection
Creating Secret Cousins was such a fun and meaningful project. I loved weaving our shared memories, inside jokes, and favorite experiences into the design, transforming an already great game into something truly personal. I’m so excited to see my creation come to life and even more excited to share it with my cousins as a gift they can play, laugh over, and keep as a reminder of our time together.
Extras!Enjoy some of the flat design