I recently read Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things To Create Extraordinary Happiness by Ingrid Fetell Lee. It really blew my mind how much of these concepts are applicable to design!
I’m not sure what exactly I expected when I cracked it open, but the first chapter was so engaging that I couldn’t help but read the entire book in one sitting.
“How often do you laugh? When was the last moment that you felt a true, unfettered moment of joy? What emotions do you feel when you walk into your home at the end of the day?”
These are some of the questions Ingrid asks almost immediately, before jumping into her topics.
I paused. Well, what is joy, really and how do I know I’m experiencing the feeling of joy versus satisfaction, for example – I had to think about this a bit. I come from a family of hard working men and women, who never stop to question their surroundings. Our homes, our clothes, and our relationships serve some sort of function that fits within the confines of the lives we created for ourselves. I wondered whether joy could just be generated, kind of like abs after a bunch of sit ups.
But Ingrid’s approach to her research wasn’t rooted in finding happiness. That emotion is simply too complex and personal to research effectively. Her focus was specifically on the aesthetics of joy. In other words, how can people alter their surroundings to feel that positive, effervescent exuberance that we collectively recognize as joy. Her book truly celebrates the power of color, light, pattern, and shape to create a healthier world.
Polka dots, rainbows, symmetry, texture… my mind is reeling with all the possibilities. I feel so inspired. Of course, I couldn’t help myself, so I put together a list of all of my favorite joyful stuff!