This thesis investigates how joy can be intentionally integrated into design practice through the development of a practical design toolkit for designers. While existing approaches in emotional design, positive design, and well-being design often focus broadly on happiness, pleasure and user satisfaction. This remains a lack of structured methods specifically aimed at designing for “joy” as a distinct emotional experience. This research addresses that gap by exploring how joy can be defined meaningfully for design practice and how designers can be supported in intentionally creating joyful experiences for everyday life.

The study adopts the Double Diamond design framework as the primary methodological approach, combining literature review, brainstorming, mind mapping, rapid ideation, method mapping, prototyping, user testing and reflective practice throughout the project development process. The research draws from interdisciplinary perspectives including psychology, philosophy, emotional design, positive psychology and design for well-being. Particular attention is given to recent theories defining joy as the “elation of right relation,” emphasizing joy as a momentary and meaningful emotional experience emerging through alignment between identity, context and sensory engagement.

Based on these findings, the project develops a Joy Design Toolkit consisting of structured tools and guiding methods intended to help designers identify joy domains, moments, sensory experiences and emotional triggers within the design process. This toolkit reframes joy into a process that cultivate meaningful emotional experiences and preparing human for their own sustainability.

Although though that joy remains subjective, contextual and culturally dependent, design can still intentionally facilitate conditions that support joyful experiences through sensory stimulation, meaningful momentary interaction and emotional alignment of joy domains. The project contributes to the growing opportunities on both emotional and positive design by proposing a more focused and actionable approach to designing for joy. It also highlights the potential role of emotionally meaningful design in supporting sustainable and human-centered futures.