Emotions Make You Human is a personal project that sheds light on smiling depression—a term used to describe individuals who appear outwardly positive while silently battling internal distress. As a mental health advocate, I created this as my final student project during my time in Shillington New York, using design as a tool to start difficult but necessary conversations.

The visual language is intentionally contradictory: loud, saturated colors clash with stark black typography, while a lopsided smile icon represents the disconnect between appearance and reality. Negative self-talk is presented in bold, heavy text to contrast the cheerful palette—mirroring the emotional tension faced by those living with smiling depression.