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Modern designers in the early 20th century embraced the notion of “less is more,” which revealed two sides of the same coin – the Jekyll-and-Hyde like character of “more,” and the surprisingly pure, natural and relatable quality of “less.” Find out how people’s relentless pursuit of economic growth often led to catastrophic results, and how people reacted to them resiliently to re-discover the power of “less.”

  1. “Less is More” – Aphorism Embraced by Modern Artists
  2. De Stijl and the Bauhaus – Mainspring of “Less is More”
  3. Wabi-sabi- the “Less is More” from the Middle Ages Japan
  4. “More” – a Double-Edged Sword in Modern Economy

We live in the most affluent society in history today. Then why are we feeling so divided, anxious and angry? It’s because our economy has a furious desire to control the entire planet using its lethal weapon: efficiency. It’s time to check if this is bringing us a sustainable happiness, because plenty of information and wisdom tells us that we are now heading towards the next global-scale crisis.

  1. The Real Reason Why our Society is so Divided
  2. Global Megatrends – Putting Today’s World in Context
  3. Efficiency – The kingmaker of Modern Economic System

Efficiency is about rewarding winners, which pits all of us against each other in fierce competition and division. But we are not ready to give up on efficiency, believing that it bring us “more,” which automatically bring us happiness. But is this true? Discover the real face of the “more” delivered by the efficiency-first economy, which is actually unable to address people’s higher needs such as love, esteem or self-accomplishment.

  1. The Not-so-Exciting Face of “More” in Efficiency-first Economy
  2. Breaking: Economic System NOT a Happiness-Maximizing System
  3. Here’s how “Less” Turns into “More”

It turns out that an economic system is, by design, driven by instinct and selfishness. As efficiency aggressively advances its agenda, “more” is unavoidably turned into “less,” and competition intensifies. It is finally time to “upgrade” our economy into a happiness-generating platform where we can exchange those things we really care about and seek. But how do we do that? We can start it by replacing efficiency with “design.”

  1. Good-bye Efficiency, Hello Design and Aesthetic
  2. The Aesthetics of “Emptiness”: From Zen Rock Garden to MUJI
  3. Empowering people: Functionality for the Bauhaus and Patagonia
  4. Goodbye Consumers, Hello Designers

A big question for the “Less is more” economy: will producing and consuming “less” shrink the economy and result in massive job losses? What kind of jobs are being created by today’s aggressive economy? Are they relatable and accessible? Are they making you happy? What is a job anyway?

  1. Are We Talking about “Less” Jobs?
  2. Job as direct and vibrant value exchange
  3. GoodGym: Human energy – the largest neglected power source
  4. Irodori: Unleash the Forgotten Potential of Grandmas
  5. iFixit: Power of Tinkering
  6. Patagonia: Value Exchanges in Product Use Phase

Discover many inspiring stories that leverage “less” – our own abilities and resilience that were left behind, unnoticed by the current economy – to generate boundless satisfaction and happiness. Welcome to the world of the “Less is more” economy where we design our own happiness.

  1. Potential of the “Less is more” Economy
  2. The “Less is more” Economy Stories