What Am I Feeling?
Olivia Hu
What Am I Feeling? is a series of seven unique booklets, each devoted to capturing the essence of human emotions: happiness, anger, sadness, fear, surprise, disgust, and shame. These emotions are derived from the Feelings Wheel created by Dr. Gloria Willcox in 1982, widely utilized by mental health professionals.
Each booklet employs size, weight, color, and typography to visually represent the emotion it portrays. The front cover is a self-portrait expressing each emotion—a personalized touch that bridges the designer and the audience.
The series is introduced by a zine that introduces the purpose for creating this project, shows glimpses of each booklet, and is a guide for viewers on how to experience each booklet individually. Enclosed within is a care package with extra goodies—stickers, a journal, and keychains.
Drawing inspiration from diverse sources such as the film Inside Out, personal experience with therapy, and the beauty of nature's representation, What Am I Feeling? delves into the scientific underpinnings of each emotion. While firmly rooted in research backed by psychologists and scientists, the series also incorporates collective lived experiences and emotional undercurrents that bring awareness and promote a deeper understanding of our emotions.