Happiness is...
Jax Wong
Happiness is deeply personal, ever-evolving, and subjective, yet it connects our individual experiences. To explore these connections, I propose examining happiness through the lens of Action Office II. Conceived by Robert Propst in 1968, Action Office II aimed to revolutionize workspaces through modularity, adaptability, and human-centered design. It envisioned an office that evolved with its users, fostering collaboration and privacy while adapting to individual workflows. However, its adoption deviated from Propst’s intent, becoming the rigid, monotonous cubicle farms we know today— a shift reflecting societal prioritization of efficiency over individuality and well-being.
Yet the core principles of Action Office II—individual-centered design, interconnectedness, and evolvement—remain profoundly relevant. These principles mirror the qualities of happiness: a dynamic, modular system that adapts to the individual, thrives on connections, and evolves over time.
To represent my collected data on happiness, I’ve created a multi-faceted project embodying these logics. A web application showcases qualitative insights through interactive, adaptable visualizations, and a series of process books translate Propst’s ideals into tangible, hands-on explorations. At the core is the rolodex, a physical artifact reflecting happiness’s ever-changing nature. Like Action Office II’s modularity, the rolodex can be rearranged, updated, and personalized, embodying happiness’s fluidity and individuality.
By mapping Action Office II’s ideals onto happiness, this project reclaims Propst’s vision and offers a fresh perspective on happiness— one prioritizing flexibility, connection, and growth over rigid conformity.