Emoji: The World’s First Global Language

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Marcus Swan

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The original emoji character set, designed in 1999 by Shigetaka Kurita. All images courtesy of author.

Emoji are cute. It’s easy to think they’re just for teenagers whose phones are permanently glued to their hands. But, as ever with the humble emoji, there’s so much more beneath the surface — in form, function, history, and future.

Emoticon vs. Emoji

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Marcus Swan

Dublin-based designer ☘️ Head of Design, Greyhound Recycling👨‍💻 Professional Panel 💯 @100archive