Infographic Poster - World Happiness
How do we measure happiness for an entire nation? The World Happiness Report actually does just that, through a calculated and detailed system of metrics. This project was all about creating an original infographic about something crucial to our lives: in this case, our mental well-being.
Design Process
Sketches and Digital Drafts
Color and Typography
When creating a poster about happiness, it seems strange to use such dark colors. However, the color palette for this project was intentional to represent the true landscape and personality of Finland.
A warm yellow expresses the warm spirits and happiness found among the people.
Blue, for the crisp air and many bodies of water in the country, from the narrow fjords to the vast lakes, and surrounding Baltic Sea.
A dark, almost-black-gray hue stands for the minimalist and resilient nature of Finnish people, rich mineral deposits in the land, and hot stones found in the country's many saunas.
Lastly, a cool white represents the snowy tundra or fells that begin in the fall months.
Gotham is easy to read and works well at the many different text sizes used in this infographic poster. Its geometric, humanistic forms feel modern yet friendly and honest. It looks professional and trustworthy for sharing data and information while still feeling human.
Bold works well for headings, subheaders, and important data points, while Book is best for the body copy and accent text.
Breakdown
Every year since 2013, the World Happiness Foundation has gathered international data to determine how happy the people are in each country. Finland has been ranked #1 since 2018. It's interesting to consider what truly makes a country "happy." I highlighted a few countries that had some of the highest and lowest happiness ratings from the WHF.
Nordic and European nations tend to rank the highest in their happiness rating. The United States is a bit lower down on the scale at 19th. Afghanistan has one of the lowest happiness ratings worldwide - it is ranked 149th.
Okay, so what determines how "happy" a nation is? Happiness doesn't look the same for everyone. However, the World Happiness Foundation looks at a wide range of factors that impact people's quality of life, security, health, relationships, and more.
The factors with the most influence include GDP per capita, average life expectancy, political and personal freedoms, and social support.
The majority of Finns would agree that having access to and spending time in nature can directly affect their overall happiness.
"Everyman's Right"
The legislation allows the people of Finland the freedom to roam anywhere in nature, including all public and privately owned lands and water areas. Foraging, hiking, skiing, horseback riding, and walking are all very popular outdoor activities in Finland.
10% of Finland is water such as lakes, rivers, and bogs. There are over 1,000 lakes in the country, so many people partake in kayaking, fishing, boating, and ice skating during colder months.
15% of Finland is urban development such as cities and towns.
75% of Finland is forest. Almost all trees in Finland are indigenous species. There is lots of space for people and animals to roam freely.
Finns believe the key to sustained happiness is their "sisu" (pronounced see-soo). This cultural phenomenon has been around since the country's formation and defines Finnish culture as a whole. Sisu is not directly translatable, but can be understood as a hardiness or "a way of life to actively transform the challenges that come our way into opportunities," (BBC, 2018). Finland is a place with extreme weather and weeks with only darkness or sun, so Finns learn to make the best of things instead of waiting around for the right conditions.
Final Graphic
Mockup
