How to be Content (Part 1)
Interactive Pamphlet | 2013
Do less for a better world.
Overview
This is a student project for one of my design classes in college.
Develop a solution which clearly communicates the “How to” process of doing less for a better world.
See Part 2 of the project where the pamphlet is transformed into a story book.
The Problem
We live in a time of abundance, but why are we still dissatisfied with what we have? I believe by decreasing our desires and attachment to material goods can we truly free ourselves from the prison we created in our minds and help us obtain inner peace.
The Solution: An Interactive Pamphlet
I created an interactive pamphlet to guide the readers towards contentment with 10 steps.
Readers are instructed to write down the thoughts as they follow along. During this process, they are forced to take a step back and have a conversation with themselves to uncover the root cause behind why they are unhappy. This exercise of self-exploration and developing constructive solutions will help people regain inner peace.
How it Works
Readers follow the steps in the pamphlet, and fill in the blanks as they go. Once they have found the solution to their problem, they can stop there and pull out the piece of paper with their writings.
Readers then keep that piece of paper as a reminder to fulfill the commitment that they've made to help them achieve contentment. The pamphlet can then be reused by other people by inserting a new piece of paper.
Cover
Insert
Because I Said so
After many years, I still remember the day my 8th grade teacher made the students who failed to turn in an assignment on time stand up in front of the whole class. We were showered by harsh scolding, but there was one thing she did that I thought was very clever. She made us say when we would turn in the assignment in front of the entire class. This experience taught me that if someone verbally commits to an action, it's more likely that the goal would be achieved, or at least be attempted with effort.
The Power of Expressive Writing
The secret sauce of this pamphlet is expressive writing. This technique was advocated by Dr. James Pennebaker, a social psychologist, for understanding and overcoming difficulties in life.