[Update March 10, 2011: See the submission here.]
If you believe everything that Michael Pollan tells us, people are doing less and less cooking. They're flopping down on the couch and watching other people cook on the Food Network.
Maybe that has something to do with the way recipes are written. Cooking should not be like changing a tire or fixing a hard drive. It’s supposed to be fun.
We'd like to see what you can come up with. What do you think would inspire better cooking—or just getting cooks into the kitchen in the first place?
the OBJECTIVE
Inspire a new generation of cooks and non-cooks with clear, simple, easy-to-understand graphic recipes.
the ASSIGNMENT
Redesign a recipe. It can be hand-drawn or hand-printed. Photographic or typographic. Wordy or wordless. Vegetarian, pescatarian, or omnivorous. Just make it original, interesting, and—above all—appealing.
the REQUIREMENTS
Please submit your recipe here. It should be a JPG and under 5MB. We'll contact the winner for higher resolution pieces. We’ll take submissions now through March 1.
The winning entry will be selected by GOOD's staff, Jessica Helfand (graphic designer, author, and founding editor of Design Observer) and Wylie Dufresne (restaurateur, philosopher, and chef at wd~50, as well as the son of a designer).
The winner will be announced on April 2 and featured on our homepage. We’ll send a GOOD T-shirt and a free subscription (or gift subscription) to the winners.
RESEARCH and INSPIRATION
I put together a slideshow of inspiring recipes that I've found in the last couple of months. These are just ideas. But feel free to click a lot. We like the traffic.
Then send us your recipe redesign! If all goes well, the recipe redesign cook-off may be coming this spring.
Say goodbye or make amends.Image via Canva - Photo by Inna Postnikova
Friends recording on a camcorder.Image via Canva - Photo by capturenow
This is an AI-generated image using the language "A beautiful woman with long eyelashes and red lips surrounded by swirls of colorful makeup." AI/Canva/Elyssa Goodman 
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
Fancy homeCanva
Happy volunteersCanva
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.