March 5th, 2019
Abundance
The aesthetic of abundance is the “kid in a candy store” feeling, and it stems from the joy we find in quantity and variety. But abundance doesn’t necessarily have to mean material abundance and the accumulation of stuff. Just as powerful is sensorial abundance, achieved through repeating patterns like polka dots and stripes, the layering of textures, and the use of multicolor palettes. Using these aesthetics can help create a space that reveals the truth of Mae West’s famous maxim: “Too much of a good thing can be wonderful.”
Top Stories
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The Aesthetics of Joy turns 10!
Ten years ago, I opened up my brand new Wordpress dashboard and pressed “Publish” on the first post for this blog. I had no idea that 10 years later I’d still be doing it, and that it would become so m...
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How to have a more joyful vacation
Travel is an inherently joyful experience, especially when we're doing it for fun. But it turns out there are lots of ways you can maximize the joy you get out of your vacation, many of which are backed by s...
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Ask Ingrid: How do I create joy in a space that I don’t have control over?
Whether it's your workspace, reception area, or a shared space, so many people have asked me how to bring joy to the spaces that we don't have full control over in our lives. Read on for my tips on how to ex...
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Imagining a more joyful Children’s Hospital
This week I had the privilege of getting to talk about joy with members of the Children’s Hospital Association.
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Ask Ingrid: How do I find joy when I’m stressed and overwhelmed?
When we are faced with persistent stress or overwhelming circumstances, many of us respond by postponing joy. But joy aids resilience by giving our bodies a break from this stress response, enabling us to re...
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February 26th, 2019
Ask Ingrid: How do you find time for joy?
February 15th, 2019
The Hidden Power of Light
February 11th, 2019
One simple secret to a more joyful relationship
January 10th, 2019
A simple way to make your new year’s resolutions stick
December 15th, 2018
7 tips for the best holiday party ever
October 9th, 2018
Joy Field Trip: The Pollock-Krasner House in Springs, NY
September 21st, 2018
Joymaker: Jessi Raulet
August 28th, 2018
Joyful: A sneak peek!
July 26th, 2018
Joymaker: Sara Emami
June 7th, 2018
Joymaker: Kristina Bing
May 18th, 2018
Joymaker: Caroline South
May 14th, 2018
Why the secret to happiness might be joy
March 6th, 2018
Joymaker: artist Lauren Salgado
May 3rd, 2018
Joymaker: Dana Fortune
February 21st, 2018
Unconventional Geometries: A Visit to Gee’s Bend
January 8th, 2018
5 Ways to Find Joy in Tough Times
December 21st, 2016
Turning Towards the light
November 14th, 2016
Living in the Grey
October 28th, 2016
The Scent Threshold
October 21st, 2016
Object of Affection: Panthella Lamp Mini
November 2nd, 2016
7 Ways to Reduce Anxiety in Your Home Through Design
October 19th, 2016
The Joy of Slime
October 16th, 2016
Objects of Affection: Colorblock phone cases
October 14th, 2016
A Danish Hospital That Heals With Color
October 10th, 2016
A joyful journey to the seven magic mountains
October 5th, 2016
The Navajo Celebration of a Baby’s First Laugh
October 1st, 2016
The Joylist: Fall 2016
September 30th, 2016
Welcome to our new home!
The Aesthetics of Joy is going to be a book!
Tokyo City Guide
September 27th, 2016
The Joy of Autumn
September 25th, 2016
Flying with Flowers
September 20th, 2016
Things to look forward to
September 16th, 2016
Women and Bumper Cars in Saudi Arabia
September 13th, 2016
One Question for a More Joyful Day
July 30th, 2016
Balloons and the Politics of Joy
June 30th, 2016
Pride and Joy
May 26th, 2016
What is art for?
May 17th, 2016
Four joyful design trends to watch
May 13th, 2016
A glossary of joys
May 9th, 2016
Five joyful elementary schools from around the world
May 3rd, 2016
The thief of joy
April 28th, 2016
Moodboard: Crystals
April 25th, 2016
{AoJ loves} Flying Tiger
April 22nd, 2016
The joy of Prince
April 14th, 2016
Zakka: the Japanese joy of everyday things
April 11th, 2016
The joy of missing out: Travel edition
April 7th, 2016
A Tokyo apartment complex designed to reverse aging
April 5th, 2016
Awesome Blossoms
April 1st, 2016
My new thing: Aesthetics of Despair
March 29th, 2016
A rainy Georgia weekend + resetting the senses
March 26th, 2016
Objects of affection: next-level Easter eggs
March 24th, 2016
Color Courage
March 21st, 2016
The most colorful holiday in the world
March 18th, 2016
Colorful, delicious Friday finds
March 16th, 2016
A landscape as alive as you are
March 14th, 2016
About the plants + a joyful experiment
March 11th, 2016
Floaty feelings + Friday finds
March 9th, 2016
Object of affection: Popcorn Monsoon
March 2nd, 2016
Should we test for joy in schools?
March 4th, 2016
A somewhat accidental mission statement + Friday finds
February 29th, 2016
Lucy Mail and the joy of extraordinary envelopes
February 26th, 2016
Beautiful birds + Friday finds
February 24th, 2016
New ways to get your joy
February 22nd, 2016
{the joy of} 72 Seasons
February 19th, 2016
Color blocks in nature + Friday finds
February 17th, 2016
Coffee color wheel
February 15th, 2016
Flower Power
February 12th, 2016
Space is the place + Friday finds
February 10th, 2016
Sarah Illenberger’s Wonder Plants
February 8th, 2016
A simple change to your home that fights emotional eating
February 5th, 2016
A giant bubble machine + links for your weekend
February 2nd, 2016
Are round logos more joyful?
February 1st, 2016
Joyful fashion: Viktor & Rolf’s Picasso-inspired SS16 Couture
January 25th, 2016
Play as process: the joyful wax sculptures of Helmut Smits
January 19th, 2016
Joyful fashion: Chinami Mori’s colorful weavings, and her model-grandmother
January 18th, 2016
Why beauty matters
January 10th, 2016
The squeaky shoe cure
January 2nd, 2016
{the joy of} Island culture
October 22nd, 2015
The view from inside a hula hoop
October 16th, 2015
Flower House
April 21st, 2015
Object of affection: Day & Night Light
April 14th, 2015
Aesthetics of early spring
March 19th, 2015
MonYay! Designing a more joyful Monday
March 18th, 2015
A more joyful Monday arrives… on Thursday!
February 25th, 2015
{the joy of} celebrating your quirks
February 19th, 2015
Objects of affection: Aesthetic prosthetics
February 16th, 2015
Let’s dance
February 13th, 2015
Collaboration: Redesign for Joy with Studio 360
February 11th, 2015
Object of affection: A giant hot air balloon swing
February 2nd, 2015
Object of affection: Tipsy writer
January 28th, 2015
A joyful death?
January 20th, 2015
Vibrant Vlisco
January 9th, 2015
Wonders never cease
January 7th, 2015
Aloha 2015!
December 8th, 2014
Moodboard: Yellow
December 2nd, 2014
To feel happier, walk happier
November 24th, 2014