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F5: Revisiting Joy Cho + Bringing Happiness Into the Everyday

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06.11.21 | By
F5: Revisiting Joy Cho + Bringing Happiness Into the Everyday
Joy Cho

Photo: Lily Glass for Oh Joy!

Joy Cho is the founder and creative director of Oh Joy!, a lifestyle brand that first launched as a graphic design studio in 2005. Today she’s focused on bringing happiness into the everyday through licensed product lines and editorial content that covers design, fashion, food and the joyful moments in life.

Oh Joy! creates a wide range of licensed products, including home decor, kids, pet and furniture collections, with brands such as Target, Band-Aid, Calpak, Petco, Keds and more. Joy has authored six books and consulted for hundreds of creative businesses around the world. She’s also given keynote speeches on entrepreneurship, leadership and business at many conferences and companies including Alt Summit, Pinterest, Target and Hallmark. Named one of Time’s 30 Most Influential People on the Internet two years in a row, Joy has the most followed account on Pinterest with 14+ million followers. Most recently, her house and studio were featured in House Beautiful, Parents and Domino Magazines. Joy is a first generation Thai-American and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two daughters, cat and puppy.

Joy was one of our first Friday Five features in October 2009, shortly after we began running the column. Today she joins us to revisit and update her Friday Five picks!

handmade ceramics

Photo: Joy Cho

1. Handmade Ceramics Classes
It’s been a great way for me to get out of my routine, learn something new and create in ways we might not be able to at home.

Joy Cho sitting in front of decorated mini van

Photo: Lily Glass for Oh Joy!

2. Minivans
Who says minivans aren’t cool? Not me! I’ve fully embraced my minivan life as a mom of two and a person who loves having lots of space to transport everything!

puppy laying on bed

Photo: Joy Cho

3. My Puppy, Sticky
I told my kids we would never get a dog, and then 2020 happened and everything changed. She’s made our lives happier and more fun, and she comes to work with me everyday now!

Chinatown

Photo: Joy Cho

4. Chinatown, Los Angeles
Take a walk around to see the love and joy that went into this area and the rebirth that is happening. It offers a slew of inspiration and plenty of decades-old shops you’ll want to pop into and support.

closeup of textiles

Photo: Joy Cho

5. Flea Market Shopping
With masks on and social distancing, one of my spots to get inspiration and vintage finds is back on the 2nd Sunday of every month, The Rose Bowl Flea Market.

Work by Joy Cho:

three children's books

Scholastic Books \\\ Photo: Lily Glass for Oh Joy!

interior living space

Joy’s New Home \\\ Photo: Bethany Nauert for Oh Joy!

interior living space

Joy’s New Home \\\ Photo: Bethany Nauert for Oh Joy!

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she's likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.