Learn How Emoji Creation Actually Works

Understanding the Unicode Standard and Emoji Basics

Emoji are small digital images or icons that represent emotions, objects, activities, and concepts. They started in Japan in the late 1990s, where the word "emoji" comes from "e" (picture) and "moji" (character). Today, emoji are managed through an international system called Unicode, which is a standardized list of characters used across computers and devices worldwide.

The Unicode Consortium is a nonprofit organization that maintains this standardized list. Think of Unicode as a massive dictionary that assigns each character—including emoji—a unique code number. For example, the smiling face emoji has the code U+1F600. When you type this code or select the emoji from your phone's keyboard, your device translates it into the actual image you see on screen.

Currently, there are over 3,600 emoji in the official Unicode standard. This number grows regularly as new emoji are proposed and approved. Each emoji exists in multiple variations depending on your device. An emoji on an iPhone may look slightly different from the same emoji on an Android phone or a Windows computer. These visual differences happen because each company (Apple, Google, Microsoft, etc.) creates its own designs for the same Unicode character.

Understanding emoji as characters rather than just pictures is important because it explains why they work across different platforms. When you send an emoji through text message, email, or social media, you're sending a code that any device can read and display. The receiving device has its own version of that emoji stored, which is why the look might vary.

Practical Takeaway: Emoji are standardized characters managed by the Unicode Consortium. Each emoji has a unique code that works across devices, though the visual appearance may differ depending on the platform. Understanding this foundation helps explain why emoji creation involves more than just designing a picture.

The Emoji Proposal and Submission Process

Creating a new emoji isn't something that happens randomly. There's a formal process where people submit proposals to the Unicode Consortium explaining why a new emoji should be added. Anyone can submit a proposal, though most come from companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft, or organizations like the Unicode Consortium members themselves.

Proposals must follow specific guidelines and answer important questions: Does this emoji fill a gap that isn't already covered by existing emoji? Will it be used across cultures and languages? Is it something that will remain relevant years from now, or is it just a temporary trend? Is there a single concept it represents, or is it too vague? For example, a proposal for a new animal emoji needs to explain why this animal should be included when so many others aren't.

Recent emoji additions show how this process works. The "Coral" emoji was proposed to raise awareness about coral reef health. The "Axolotl" emoji was added because it's a fascinating creature with a dedicated fanbase and cultural significance. The "Melting Face" emoji was proposed to represent feeling overwhelmed or stressed in a humorous way. Each of these proposals included research about why these specific emoji were needed and evidence that people would actually use them.

The submission process includes several rounds of review. First, a subcommittee examines the proposal for completeness and whether it meets technical requirements. Then the full Unicode Technical Committee votes on whether to move forward. If approved, the proposal moves to a public review period where anyone can comment on it. This entire process can take one to two years from initial proposal to final approval.

Companies often submit multiple proposals each year. In 2023, Apple submitted proposals for new emoji ranging from animals to activities. Google, Microsoft, and other tech companies do the same. Not every proposal passes. Some are rejected because the concept is too similar to existing emoji, or because they're considered too trendy or culturally specific.

Practical Takeaway: New emoji go through a formal multi-year review process with public input. Proposals must demonstrate that an emoji fills a genuine need and will have long-term value. Anyone can submit a proposal by following Unicode Consortium guidelines, though major tech companies account for most submissions.

The Design and Technical Specifications Process

Once an emoji is approved by the Unicode Consortium, the actual design work begins. This is where the visual appearance of emoji gets created. Each major platform—Apple, Google, Microsoft, Samsung, Twitter (now X), and others—creates its own version of the approved emoji.

Emoji design must follow strict technical requirements. Each emoji is created at a specific size, typically 128x128 pixels, though this can vary. The emoji must be recognizable even when scaled down very small on a phone screen or scaled up on a billboard. Designers test their work at multiple sizes to ensure it remains clear and identifiable.

Color choices matter significantly in emoji design. Designers must consider how colors appear on different screen types and to people with color blindness. An emoji that relies on a red-versus-green distinction might be confusing to someone with red-green color blindness. Good emoji design uses distinct shapes and patterns that work even if the colors change slightly or appear different on various devices.

Each platform develops its own design style. Apple's emoji tend to have a specific look and feel that matches their overall design language. Google's emoji look different because Google uses different colors, line weights, and artistic choices. An emoji on Samsung phones reflects Samsung's design preferences. This is why the same emoji can look cartoonish on one device and more realistic on another.

The technical file formats used for emoji are also important. Emoji are often saved as SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) files during design, which means they can be enlarged or reduced without losing quality. When the emoji is finalized, it gets converted to the format each platform uses—PNG files for most phones and computers, or other formats for different applications.

Variation selectors are another technical consideration. Some emoji have multiple versions. For example, there are emoji with skin tone variations (like hand-waving emoji in different skin tones), gender variations, and style variations. These aren't separate emoji in the Unicode system—they're variations of the base emoji created using special codes called variation selectors.

Practical Takeaway: Each platform independently designs approved emoji using strict technical specifications. Emoji must remain recognizable at all sizes and account for color blindness and different screen displays. The design process involves creating multiple versions for different platforms, which explains why the same emoji looks different across devices.

Cultural Considerations and Diversity in Emoji

One major challenge in emoji creation is ensuring they represent people from different cultures and backgrounds. Early emoji sets were criticized for lacking diversity, particularly regarding skin tones and representing various professions and family structures. The Unicode Consortium has increasingly focused on making emoji more inclusive.

Skin tone modifiers were added in 2015, allowing users to select from five different skin tone options for emoji depicting people. This means the waving hand emoji, for example, can appear in five different skin tones. In addition, emoji have been added representing people in various professions—doctors, farmers, scientists, teachers—across different genders to reflect real-world workforce diversity.

Family emoji now include different configurations, such as two mothers with children, two fathers with children, and single-parent families. These additions resulted from cultural feedback and proposals showing that people worldwide wanted emoji reflecting their own family structures and lived experiences.

Religious and cultural symbols have also been considered carefully. Emoji include religious symbols from various faiths—the cross, star of David, crescent moon, and others—to represent different belief systems. Some emoji proposals have been rejected or modified based on cultural sensitivity concerns. Designers must research how symbols are understood in different cultures before finalizing them.

Gender-neutral and gender-variable emoji have become more common. The "person" emoji can now appear without specific gender indication, and many occupational emoji exist in multiple gender options. This reflects growing recognition that not everyone identifies within traditional gender categories.

There's ongoing discussion about whether emoji accurately represent global diversity. Some argue certain regions and cultures remain underrepresented. For instance, there are many emoji for Western animals and foods, while creatures and dishes common in other parts of the world are less represented. The emoji creation process continues to evolve based on these discussions and feedback from diverse communities.

Practical Takeaway: Modern emoji creation includes deliberate efforts to represent diverse skin tones, professions, family structures, and cultural symbols. This evolved from feedback showing that people wanted emoji reflecting their own identities and communities. Ongoing proposals work to improve representation across regions and cultures.

The Role of Data and Usage Patterns in Emoji Development