Although a good deal of our joy comes from within, there is no denying the impact our physical surroundings have upon us. New Canaan Library welcomes designer, author and TED talk presenter Ingrid Fetell Lee, speaking about her book Joyful , on Thursday, September 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the Adrian Lamb Room. Copies of the book will be available for purchase, courtesy of Elm Street Books. Please register online at newcanaanlibrary.org.

Why are we drawn to glowing sunsets and New England’s fall foliage, or flock to Washington D.C. to catch the cherry blossoms? Because as much as “happiness comes from within” is a valid philosophy, the physical world also has a major impact on our inner joy. Looking inward via meditation or mindfulness is one route to calm and peace, but In Joyful, designer Ingrid Fetell Lee, whose TED talk has been viewed over 1 million times, explores how the seemingly mundane spaces and objects we interact with every day have surprising and powerful effects on our mood.

Ingrid Fetell Lee is a designer and the founder of the blog The Aesthetics of Joy. She has been featured as an expert on design and joy by outlets such as The New York Times, Wired and Fast Company, and her 2018 TED talk received a standing ovation. Lee was formerly Design Director at global innovation firm IDEO and was a founding faculty member in the Products of Design program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. She holds an MA in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute and a BA in English and Creative Writing from Princeton University. www.aestheticsofjoy.com