NYT The Happiness Issue (Revised)
A revision of my visual communication project from DES166, The Happiness Issue. Inspired by happiness research, the cover explores how we often search for happiness in the wrong places, overlooking the sources of fulfillment that may already exist around us.
Type
Cover Design
Photography
iPhone 17 Pro
Tool
Adobe Illustrator
Date
April 2026
01
The Original
Two early explorations focused on familiar symbols of happiness, but the concepts felt too abstract and relied heavily on explanation rather than immediate visual understanding.
What I've done
01. Used an apple and measuring tape to represent the idea of chasing and measuring happiness
02. The bright yellow background was intended to simplify the composition and create a strong focal point around the apple
What I should improve
01. The connection between the apple and human happiness was not immediately clear, making the concept feel confusing rather than meaningful
02. The typography also felt inconsistent with the visual language of The New York Times Magazine
What I've done
01. Used a smiling sticky note floating in rising water to explore happiness during overwhelming moments
02. The contrast between the sinking environment and the floating note was meant to suggest that happiness can remain present during difficult times
What I should improve
01. The message relied too much on explanation and felt somewhat abstract without context
02. The smiley face was also a familiar symbol, making the concept less distinctive
02
Early Concept Exploration
I explored ideas inspired by happiness research, including social connection, relationships, and the search for happiness. During this process, the idea of mistaking a piece of trash for a flower emerged and became the foundation for the final cover.
03
Testing Compositions
After identifying the core metaphor, I tested several visual approaches to determine which composition communicated the message most clearly. The close-up hand reaching toward the paper offered the strongest contrast and visual focus.
04
Final Revision
Inspired by Susan Dominus's article How Nearly a Century of Happiness Research Led to One Big Finding, this cover explores the gap between where we search for happiness and where happiness is actually found. A hand reaches for a crumpled piece of yellow paper that resembles a flower, while real flowers already exist throughout the field. The flowers represent the relationships, connections, and everyday moments that happiness research identifies as the strongest contributors to well-being. The paper represents the achievements, self-improvement, and future ideals that people often mistake for happiness. The image suggests that the pursuit of happiness can sometimes distract us from the happiness already present around us.
