For the German second edition of Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment, Goldmann Verlag/Random House was looking for a wholly new design.

Can you learn to be happy? Yes, according to the teacher of Harvard University’s most popular course grounded in “positive psychology.” In his book, Tal Ben-Shahar combines scientific studies, scholarly research, self-help advice, and spiritual enlightenment.

I have come up with a completely revised jacket design featuring an illustration of mine—a crawling ladybug, a symbol traditionally associated with luck and happiness. The typographically challenging design incorporates a giant rendition of the capital letter G (for “Glücklicher”, Happier).