Ingrid Fetell Lee is a designer and writer whose work explores the profound connection between the designed world and our inner lives. Through her platform, The Aesthetics of Joy, and her work as an IDEO fellow, she champions the idea that thoughtful design can actively cultivate happiness and well-being. Lee's approach delves into how the sensory elements of our environment can shape our emotions and elevate our daily experiences. Her writing offers readers practical and inspiring insights into harnessing the power of design to enrich their lives and find greater joy.
'This book has the power to change everything' Susan Cain, author of Quiet In this groundbreaking book, designer Ingrid Fetell Lee explores how making small changes to your surroundings can create extraordinary happiness in your life.
A brave boy explores a dark cave. When he encounters the mysterious Stark, he tries to ignore it and shoo it away. But amid the wonders of the cave, the curious Stark keeps showing up, until the boy can ignore him no longer. In recounting the story of a fantastic cave creature, a father explains the features of a karst cave to his little boy. A short addendum describes and defines cave features, with photographs.
Have you ever wondered why we stop to watch the orange glow that arrives before sunset, or why we flock to see cherry blossoms bloom in spring? Is there a reason that people -- regardless of gender, age, culture, or ethnicity -- are mesmerized by baby animals, and can't help but smile when they see a burst of confetti or a cluster of colorful balloons? We are often made to feel that the physical world has little or no impact on our inner joy. Increasingly, experts urge us to find balance and calm by looking inward -- through mindfulness or meditation -- and muting the outside world. But what if the natural vibrancy of our surroundings is actually our most renewable and easily accessible source of joy? In Joyful, designer Ingrid Fetell Lee explores how the seemingly mundane spaces and objects we interact with every day have surprising and powerful effects on our mood. Drawing on insights from neuroscience and psychology, she explains why one setting makes us feel anxious or competitive, while another fosters acceptance and delight -- and, most importantly, she reveals how we can harness the power of our surroundings to live fuller, healthier, and truly joyful lives
'This book has the power to change everything' Susan Cain 'A completely original treatment of a completely new and original idea' Arianna Huffington Find joy in the space around you When did you last feel joy? Changing your surroundings is the most easily accessible source in finding joy, says Ingrid Fetell Lee, former Design Director of IDEO New York. In Joyful, she explains it's time to open our eyes to the physical world. By making small but powerful changes to the things around us, we can live happier, healthier lives. Her TED talk has been viewed over 10 million times.