Seeing old friends makes me happy!

Weiheng is an old friend I've known for quite some years. He graduated in the Communication Design program at Emily Carr in 2006 and went on to New York for a great adventure. With his visit back in Vancouver for Chinese New Year, we got a chance to meet back up today with other Emily alumni Joyce, Kathy, and Freda. I was sick like a dog, but I just can't pass on this precious opportunity to meet up with old friends...

Of course, being a keener that I am, I had to take the opportunity to talk to them about my happiness project. After describing to them my intention and the frustration I'm going through with the topic, Weiheng and friends reminded to do start with something simple, small and open-ended then let the ideas grow... Thanks guys!

These constructive chit-chats definitely calmed me down. I can finally focus...

Time to pull myself out of that happiness pool

Eli No, a children's book about a puppy who's told no all the time.
by Katie Kirk & Nathan Strandberg of Eighthourday.

This is very much like the relationship between me and my own voice.

During the field research when I talked to strangers about happiness, responses have been positive. The smiles I got from people when I mentioned the word happiness was what got me to stick to this impossible subject. Having said that, out of the 80 pre-stamped postcards I've sent out, I got less than 20 mailed back to me. Maybe I'm too naive to think that people actually care. It's hard not to feel discouraged. But this is not a perfect world, so I'm just going to look at surveys I got back and promise myself to stay optimistic.

I just want to do something for the people because it makes me happy when I'm able to help. I simply want to bring a smile to more people's faces.

...

After stewing in a pool of happiness for the past few weeks. I started to feel very tired of the word happiness. Something seemingly simple is becoming overly analyzed and loosing its spontaneity I first wanted to achieve.

What happened to child play? What happened to my gut feelings? What happened to my imaginations? There hasn't been one second I haven't thought about the topic. And it's getting really stale and old. I tend to step on the break when I get this idea in the head. I hear voices of suggestions and critiques. I worry about the outcome of the project being superficial or clichés. I need that balance. I need to switch from shutting off of my own judgement voices to grilling and testing my ideas. (yeah, yeah, yeah, we all know that... I just need to write it down to remind myself)

Since there hasn't been a minute that I haven't drenched myself in others' ideas of happiness, even the thought of that h word starts to irritate me. I feel like I'm a dog chasing its own tail. I've sketched out idea but feel like I'm going nowhere.

Like what's been discussed today in class, I need to pull myself out of it and think within. What's really important to me? What do I want to do for this project? It's been a habit of mine to please others, so it's hard to all of a sudden weigh my own voice heavier than others.

Also, like what Sharon said. I need to do some metathinking and image that I'm floating above all of these ideas and chaos. Looking at the process and evaluate with a clear mind.

Ommm.... is what I need to do tonight.

Word scramble

Talking to others about my project helps. Letting people know my frustration also helps. I'm lucky to be surrounded by helpful peers and supportive instructors. I feel like I'm hitting the bottle neck at this point. I can seem to squeeze out any brilliant ideas that others agree upon. I don't want to produce something superficial. At the same time, I don't want the opportunity to showcase my skills to suffer. Am I too greedy to want to do well? I HATE BEING A PERFECTIONIST. I can't seem to let go of even perfecting my thoughts. Just thinking of executing these ideas is tiring enough.

Anyhow, I was really going to say is that Peter was helpful in allowing me to see possibilities and forced me to be random and spontaneous. With these words that I got from surveys I handed out, Peter discover word combos that are more interesting that the individuals by themselves. (ie. recycle, sunshine, cheese) So, I've cut up all the words and phrases and randomly pick groups of threes out. The results are way more interesting! Thanks, Peter.

Explorations of Deliverables

Shutting off of my judgment voice, I put down deliverable ideas I could think of.

1. Handkerchieves with silkscreened thought/encouragements
• Yes. Maybe the messages themselves need to be more open ended rather than something specific.
• Installation
• Distribution to the public
• Documentation
• Book

2. Interactive Book
• Combine real stories from people with tools to help you achieve happiness (focused on constructive planning)
• Invent tools to help people to do things
• Give-away (things for people to keep as a reminder to stay positive and act instead of worrying)
• With instructions and activities to help people forget about sadness, frustration, and stress (IDEO's method cards?!)

3. Pop-up Posters
• Thoughts from survey
• A journey from scientific facts to human thoughts (Dan Gilbert's theory on people's synthetic happiness and ability to imagine the future)
• Info graphics? Stats? Colours?

4. Interactive Calendar
• Again, focused on constructive planning and fighting procrastination & unnecessary worrying

5. Silly de-stress games/activities (release anger, frustration, and get everything out of your system)
• Extremely stupid games that help people forget unhappy thoughts.
• Shooting tapioca at a photo of someone
• Breaking recycle plates, smashing ceramics

Mindless drawing

It was great to drop everything and just look at books with fun and happy visuals. I drew, I traced, I learned, and played. It's very therapeutic and meditative.

More Interesting Lists

Here are some of the least popular choices. I thought I'd share these interesting thoughts.

What makes you happy?

• a day off
• things that fit nicely together
• breakfast
• an orange wedge when I'm hungry
• recycle
• curiosity
• dreams/hope
• discovery
• spontaneity
  
• cheese
• birds singing

What makes you sad?

• knowing the truth
• gaining weight
• fat on my belly caused by cheese (my favorite!)
• douche bags
• idiots with power to affect my life (another one I like)
  
• the price of gas
  

Top 10 Lists

Top 10 Happy List:
1. Friends
2. Family
3. Love
4. Accomplishment/Success
5. Good food
6. Seeing Others Happy
7. Laughters
8. Learning New Things
9. Sunshine
10. Sleep
+ Surprises

Top 10 Sad List:
1. Loneliness
2. Disappointment
3. A Gloomy Day
4. Stress
5. Hunger
6. Seeing Others Sad/Suffer
7. When I lost my Goal
8. Conflicts
9. Negativity
10. Work

Tomorrow's Goal...

...is to tally up my survey regarding people's answer for my happiness. Start drawing and doing. I'll be shutting off my judgment and thinking for a day tomorrow to see what I can get.

BE SILLY and HAVE FUN is my goal for tomorrow! (or I mean, today)

Celebration

It was Chinese New Year's Eve tonight. Friends invited me over to dinner and later had a house party of karaoke. Fun! Fun! Fun! I sometimes forget how being silly can bring this much joy. Singing and laughing with friends are now I think what makes me happy. Letting loose definitely feel awesome. I was to apply that to my project but seem to be running into that push and pull dilemma where I want to produce a work without over analyzing and keep the spontaneity but I don't want this project to turn into just an art project...

I need to be happy for the project to spread happiness

It's Chinese New Year in two days. I called home and talked to my mom. She was cleaning the house with my dad (a must in our culture to clean the place and welcome the new year).

She says that Audrey (my sister) and her husband are arriving home tonight and wishes I was there too so the whole family can be together for the Chinese New Year. I heard 3 seconds of silence, and my eyes started to water. Both my mom and I were trying our hardest not to cry because we both know that if we do, we'll make each other worry. She'd be worrying me being along and I'd be worrying her worrying about me. Being people-pleasers like us, we wanted each other to be happy. So I held my tears back and told her my eventful plans I have ahead, going to friends' and how we'll celebrate. After that wave of missing each other, me and my mom said our quick goodbyes so grandma can talk to me.

Of course, when I talked to her, she said, "Happy New Year! Why aren't you back here? We all miss you... But I understand that you're doing what you have to do. So, don't worry and be happy. Because only when you're happy I can be happy."

Another great insight grandma has taught me. I need to be genuinely happy to allow other to feel the same way. This goes the same for my project I suppose.

Olle Eksell-A Happy Designer/Illustrator

Alright! It's here, it's here. A book I've waited has finally arrived. I swear, every time my books arrive from Amazon feels like a X'mas morning for me.

Olle Eksell is an amazing Graphic Designer and Illustrator who's work is filled with genuine graphics, cheerful colour usage, and lively composition. I grew up seeing Joan Miró's paintings my dad hung up on the walls (in fact, they're still on the wall in my room.) I never got tired of it. I've always been a great admirer of the sincerity, innocence, and abstraction of Miró's work. Now discovering a designer adapting that sense of sincerity and innocence into design work is so very refreshing!

I was talking to Nina and Heather yesterday in the car about how we all strive to achieve creating work that will have longevity in terms of its visual impact. Imagination, sincerity, passion, and honesty I think play a big part in that it would allow the audience to participate and indulge themselve to be a part of the creation. And that's what I think the qualities that both Joan Miró and Olle Eksell share in their work.

ps. Thanks Jane for introducing the book to me.

A trip to the cafeteria

During the lunch break today, I went to the cafeteria and personally interrupted random people's lunch and handed them my surveys. Since they're mostly students, most of them understand my situation and were all willing to help. And it worked! The afternoon, I got a lot more responses in my happiness inbox I've put at reception. Yay!

Now that I've got the survey more or less done, Sharon's right, I need to start looking within myself and see what happiness is to me. After all, I can't make everyone happy. I had an epiphany from looking at these surveys that there is no possible way that one can tell others how to be happy.

What I think I should be thinking about is how I can interpret happiness in a more open-ended manner and allow the audience to interact with the work with their own imagination. But at the same time, I want to be able to create something concrete that will help my target audience to hang on to when they feel lost. A classic push and pull dilemma I'm in.

A Class about Obsession

Sharon asked us to talk about our obsessions today in class. Fun discoveries!
Amy–Martha Stewart
Joomi–fashion magazines
Hana–likes to watch movies she like over and over
Lynn–locks/Time
Arial–band-aid
Mark–news
Craig–the video stream on financial guys who can't stop talking about the Dow Jones
and many others

Mine was on collecting candy wrappers. What I got out of this discussion/sharing of these obsessions is that we shouldn't feel embarrassed about it. Rather, we should indulge in our obsessions. If our obsession is something that we're naturally drawn to, we should use this intuitive favoritism to nurture it in our work. Marian Bantjes and Stefan Sagmeister are two classic examples of having their own obsessions as the explosive signature in their work.

I'm going to take these candy wrappers I've collected and use it as a part of my visual research for my project. I'll investigate closely on what is it about these candy wrappers that make me keep them for years and years. Off the top of my head, I can think of these:
• colours
• graphics
• what's inside these wrappers
• typography
• nostalgia
• reminder of childhood innocence
• taste ( I can somehow have a hint of taste of the candy when I see the wrapping)
• logo

Story of a pyramid and a musician

Leo's Song from impactist on Vimeo.

This made my day. :D
Great story and insight all encompassed in a simple animation. Brilliant. I stumbled upon this when I was on FB. Thanks to Jeff who found this.

Responses Flying In. WhooHoo!

I've been hesitant to send out a group message to my "Exploring Happiness" Group on Facebook because I didn't want to annoy people with the research of my project. But I thought, if they join the group, there should be some interaction talking about happiness or there's no point of having the group. So, I sent out the group message initiating the conversation. I asked my friends what I asked random people with 3 quick questions.

1. What makes you happy?

2. What makes you sad?

3. What makes you feel better when you're depressed or frustrated?

And, results fly in. I knew I didn't need to worry that much. I realized that these worries are always in my head. And I play out the consequences before I even do anything. This totally proves Dan Gilbert's theory on happiness. Likst what Sagmeirster says, "Worry solves nothing"

As I was really discouraged when I see an empty inbox at school for my survey, this instant facebook responses from friend really helped! Thanks, friends (and FB, I guess...)

Field Visual Research: Salmagundi

Salmagundi is this awesome awesome antique shop I go to periodically when I feel like indulging in stuff. A nice gentleman looks after the shop and greets everyone with the brightest smile and sincerity. I love being there! Look at all the tin toys I found. They're faux antiques, but still. Pretty cool graphics! I always get overwhelmed with the goodness in that shop. Oh, did I tell you that I found a William Morris book printed in 1805 there once?!

Address: Richards + Cordova

Field Visual Research: Dressew

Went to Dressew and Salmagundi Antique shops today for some visual research. I just wanted to look at some fun fabric, wild colours, antique toys, and funky stuff. I scanned all the different fabric I got and started looking at them and thinking of possibilities. After all, I needed a break from TED...

More visuals

So, I've got this folder in on my desktop named "Eye Candies" where I keep all visuals I come across. I'll post as many as I can for this post. Or, stay tuned for later posts.

Happy visuals

Notes to self

Malcom Gladwell:
There isn't one perfect Pepsi, there are perfect Pepsis.

Giving people choices = happiness
Catering to people's different taste buds = smart business
Acknowledging people's differences = my project?! (Or, is this too broad and endless? Maybe the varied interpretation of happiness can be conglomerated into larger groups)

Quite different from Gilbert's talk about synthetic happiness and natural happiness.

Disney Noah's Arc.

Disneys Noah's Ark
This brought me back to my childhood. Staying in my aunt's apartment in Taipei. In the air conditioned room with my sister and my cousin watching this. It never gets old. My favorite is when the hippo punches the holes. It's full of imagination.
Oh, how I miss the simpler times.


1959 Disney Noah's Arc.

Random Stranger's definition of Happiness from TED comment

Below is a comment I found while researching on TED. This lady has a very articulate and well-defined insight on happiness.

Jesse Teshara – November 28 2008

I'll do a public verbal think on what I believe happiness is: the absence of suffering/irritation, first of all.Pain is usually suffering, although it doesn't have to be (such as masochism, or if it serves some higher purpose, e.g. the "redemptive value of suffering," which I admit I've never understood or been keen on...The Giving Tree says the tree "was happy, but not really" -we all want real happiness, no?).

Maybe happiness is simply a decision to be happy. Once made, you remember and find out what makes you happy and only do those things. Think happy thoughts.Gradually replace negative ones/patterns.

Malcolm Gladwell's pasta sauce video says we often don't know what makes us happy.Thus, we should keep journals with lists of the various things we've come across that we enjoy. And we should be open to new things and taking risks so we can find new joys.Variety is the spice of life. We should sample the various pursuits of others who have found happiness, including health, wealth, love (god), service, and meditation.Loving kindness, friendship.People define wealth for themselves. Songs:Ren and Stimpy sang happy happy joy joy.Bob Marley and Bobby McFerrin sang Don't worry, be happy.The Beatles sang Happiness is a warm gun (mama).The Hard Rock cafe says love all, serve all.Satisfy your soul/5 senses: Good music, meals, movies, massage,scent, books. Art. Candles,warm bath,fireplace. Comfort. Hard work, satisfying sleep.And being healthy, body and mind. Laughing, good humor, defeating depression through vigorous action.Sports, winning, getting stronger, more fit.Endorphins.Fitness and exercise, paired with good clothes, so you look good, feel good.Empowerment.Self-defense.Simple pleasures, and the more complex ones.Calm, tranquil, serene/Rollercoasters,skydiving/Hobbies,fun. My wife says you should have self-confidence and love yourself.Jesus said love your neighbor as yourself.Smiling makes you happier.Smile, you're on candid camera. Peace,harmony. Freedom.Live! A rock.:-)

Jonathan Harris: Collecting Stories

This girl from Bumthang wishes that she were a boy.

At the EG conference in December 2007, artist Jonathan Harris discusses his latest projects, which involve collecting stories: his own, strangers', and stories collected from the Internet, including his amazing "We Feel Fine."

While looking at possibilities for my grad project, I'm interested in listening to other people's stories and learn about people I met, people I'm friends with, people who I love and care about.

Theresa told me about Jonathan Harris's lecture on TED. I remember stumbling upon this talk, but couldn't track it down anymore. Thank god for friends from school who are TED junkies like me to highlight these talks for me.

Jonathan Harris travels to Bumthang and talks to random people about happiness and their wishes. He uses balloons as the visualization tool to express these strangers' emotions and voice. These locals in different ages all have very different insight and interpretation of happiness. Some wishes they made seem absurd but definitely honest and sincere.

Jonathan Harris: We Feel Fine

Jonathan Harris wants to make sense of the emotional world of the Web. With deep compassion for the human condition, his projects troll the Internet to find out what we're all feeling and looking for. Kamvar use simple shapes in different colors to visualize different emotions that appear on blogs in real time. We Feel Fine is the website. It's impressive how humanistic they've made a cold website. Stories, words, and conversation from real people is what I find most valuable about the work.

43 Things

Ginger posted this interesting online community called 43 Things which encourages people to list their goals, share their progress, and have people cheer them on. They also have a book out called Dream It. List It. Do It! Thanks Ginger. This helps.

Soft socks make me happy.

Just thought I'd share. You ought to try it.

Yes! I feel much better now that my entry is submitted.

I found out about this poster competition a while ago. The brief has been taped on my wall for the longest time. Every time I see it, I get this jolt of nerves and stress thinking that I should really get to it. I always feel that I don't have time and kept on putting it off. And, I kept on questioning if my poster would gonna be good enough before I even produce it?
In my head, I kept on thinking that I won't have enough time to develop this. Until yesterday, I finally decided to give myself the strict deadline of finishing it. I've finally did 3 versions of the posters and submitted it. Regardless of the result, it definitely felt great when I hit that "submit" button and got this long-awaited task done....*phew.

Fun discovery!

While taking my daily dose of blog read. I found this from Douglas Wilson's blog. Nice and simple, I love it. This simple Photographantasmascope seems like a great to to grab people's attention. I'll have to try it soon.



From the maker of this animation. In March 2007 at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London we hosted an evening of animation related events which I took as an opportunity to make some more examples of my Phonographantasmascope, an extension of the Zoetrope principle. It is all live action and works by using the shutter speed of the camera rather than the rather irritating stroboscope methods other 3D Zoetropes use. Please excuse my waffling over the top of it, I was speaking for four hours to a constantly revolving set of people. MUSIC - ELLIOT SMITH - IN THE LOST AND FOUND

Facebook Group.

Finally, I can put Facebook into some practical use. I've got 42 members in my Exploring Happiness Group now. WhooHoo! So far, I've got 5 people's responses from the members for the group. I wish to have this become a pool of happy tips that we can share with each other. I've put my list up. I hope you will too.

Here's my list of things that make me happy again.

Family, friendship, love, exploration, sharing, generosity, sunshine, laughter, children, play, games, dancing, music, rainbow, my red umbrella in the rain, free writing, helping others, accomplishment, observation, drawing, talking to friends, good movies, meaningful conversations, freedom, creativity, getting things done, concentration, obsession, thoughts, post-it notes, yummy food, mom's dishes, family's support, family's approval, encouragement, exercise, health, craziness, talking non-sense, traveling, seeing new things...

Paula Scher: Great design is serious (not solemn)

This TED talk by Paula Scher shows what kind of design she longs doing. Solemn vs. Serious design. She defines design as play.

Solemn:
• Washington
• Socially correct
• Perfection
• Rules

Serious:
• New York
• Play/Be silly
• Whole-hearted
• Spontaneous
• Accidental
• Intuitive
• Incidental
• Create out of Innocence
• Selflessness
• Imperfection
• Human traits

She talks about how she's created "Serious Design" 4 times in her career.
• The identity for the Public Theatre
• Napkin drawing of the Citi Bank Logo.

I too, strive to create seriously.