Overview
The Beshbarmak Game is an interactive digital experience designed to teach players how to cook Beshbarmak while preserving Central Asian heritage. Through storytelling and gamification, it fosters cultural appreciation and engagement.
My contribution
Illustrations (Adobe illustrator, Procreate)
Game Design (Figma)
UX Research (Surveys, Interviews)
The team
1 × UX Designer
1 × PhD student
Year
2025
Process
Project overview
The Beshbarmak Game is an interactive digital experience designed to teach players how to cook Beshbarmak while preserving Central Asian heritage. Through storytelling and gamification, it fosters cultural appreciation and engagement.
Design & Development
User Research: Conducted interviews, surveys, and usability tests.
Gameplay Mechanics: Step-by-step cooking, interactive guides, and cultural trivia.
Visual & Audio Design: Inspired by Central Asian aesthetics, featuring traditional music and narration.
Engagement Features: Gamification with achievements, leaderboards, and social sharing.
Impact & Next Steps
The game successfully merges tradition with technology, making cultural learning accessible worldwide. Future plans include adding more Central Asian dishes, multiplayer features, and cultural collaborations.
Outcome
Future Plans for Making of Beshbarmak
As Making of Beshbarmak evolves, the next phase focuses on deepening cultural connection through AI and real-world experiences. We plan to integrate AI-driven storytelling, allowing the game to generate dynamic narratives that adapt to users’ interactions. Additionally, we are exploring the impact of AI avatars and voice technology on learning, researching how they enhance engagement and emotional connection to cultural heritage.
Beyond the digital space, Beshbarmak will expand into offline cooking events, bringing people together to cook, share stories, and strengthen their ties to tradition. A key research focus moving forward is nostalgia among Central Asian immigrant families, studying how food and interactive experiences help preserve identity across generations.