The OVERTHINK Project

OVERTHINK – Dare to Overthink. Dare to Dream.

OVERTHINK is an ongoing narrative illustration project initiated by artist-illustrator UUendy Lau (UU), a self-confessed overthinker who has always found herself thinking deeply, feeling intensely and getting carried away by the smallest details. Growing from her own experiences, the project embraces and celebrates the often-stigmatised inclination to overthink, challenging the common perception that it is simply a flaw to overcome.

For UU, embracing oneself should also mean embracing one's way of thinking. Just as our personalities are shaped by our individual experiences and memories, so are our thoughts. Every overthought carries a little piece of who we are, making even the most tangled internal monologues uniquely our own.

Making Room for The Mind to Wander
In today's fast-paced, distraction-filled world, where we are constantly surrounded by screens, endless information and the pressure to stay occupied, taking time to think freely has become something of a luxury. When was the last time we sat down, slowed down and did nothing but think? OVERTHINK invites us to reclaim that space: to linger, reflect, daydream and sometimes simply get lost in our own minds. The project also explores the possibility of positive overthinking. What if, instead of endlessly dwelling on worries, we directed that same attention and energy towards the things we love, the ideas that inspire us and the dreams we hope to pursue? Could overthinking become a source of creative fuel rather than a cage? And if we learn to guide our minds towards brighter possibilities, can we still call ourselves overthinkers, or are we dreamers, too? These questions remain open, encouraging curiosity rather than offering fixed answers.
Thinking, Feeling and Creating
Through narrative illustration, playful characters, visual poetry, animation and reflective writing, OVERTHINK turns these ideas into a growing series of creative works and everyday objects. The project has grown from its founding zine publication, The Proud Overthinker, into a collection of booklets, clothing, tea towels, mugs, postcards, stickers, pins and other daily objects. Each piece offers a different perspective on the intricate, humorous and sometimes overwhelming ways our minds work, inviting people to recognise, embrace and find joy in their own ways of thinking.

At its heart, OVERTHINK is about giving ourselves permission to think deeply, dream wildly and explore the possibilities within our own minds. It is a gentle reminder that not every moment needs to be productive, not every thought needs to be resolved, and sometimes it is perfectly okay to linger a little longer, simply because we want to.

Dare to overthink. Dare to dream big.P.S. Don't overthink why you overthink!