The Happiness Currency

The Happiness Currency creates a cultural link between Nagoya (Japan) and Geelong (Australia) through a stamp and illustrative design representative of both cultures and their connection through motifs of flora and fauna. 
Five ink selections represent the Five Love Languages that are the medium in which we circulate emotional transactions in a world where we are moving from the physical to digital space. 
This piece pays homage to nostalgia within the two countries. The stamp design was inspired by the Japanese stamp rally, a childhood memory for many Japanese children. While the stamp is made utilising the medium of lino art commonly taught in Australian high schools. 

Scope 

GRAPHIC DESIGN • PRINT DESIGN • ILLUSTRATION 
PHOTOGRAPHY •  LINO CARVING

Software

Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop & Premiere Pro
Procreate

Creative Team

Aarya Hatkhambkar •  Yu Tong Kua • Emily Belcher (me)

Project Role

Brochure Designer • Illustrator • Exhibition Photographer

Design Process 

Through exploration and observation of the Japanese culture when visiting beautiful places in Tokyo, Nagoya and Kyoto, we where able to identify connections between the two UNESCO Design cities, Nagoya and Geelong.

The Happiness Currency was part of the exhibition Translocated a Collaboration with the 2022 Streaming Heritage Festival in Nagoya, Japan.

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SILA