How Are Emojis Made?

What do a playground slide, hands in the shape of a heart, and a troll have in common? They’re part of the newest batch of about 100 emojis. 

People everywhere will be able to include them in texts and online posts soon. The emojis will join the thousands of others that are already shared billions of times each day. But have you ever thought about where these colorful symbols come from? 

A group called the Unicode Consortium approves all new emojis. It’s made up mostly of technology companies like Google. Each year, Unicode reviews ideas for new emojis and decides which ones to approve. 

“A lot of effort is going on behind the scenes to make sure they are as useful as possible for people across the world,” says Keith Broni. He works for a website about emojis. 

Anyone can send in an emoji idea, including you. Use the tips on the next page to create your own!

What do a playground slide, hands in the shape of a heart, and a troll have in common? They’re a few of the newest emojis! People will be able to use them in texts and online posts soon.

Thousands of emojis are shared billions of times each day. But do you know where these symbols come from?

A group called the Unicode Consortium approves all new emojis. It’s made up mostly of technology companies like Google. Each year, Unicode reviews ideas for new emojis. It decides which ones to approve.

“A lot of effort is going on behind the scenes to make sure they are as useful as possible for people across the world,” says Keith Broni. He works for a website about emojis.

Anyone can send in an emoji idea, including you. Use the tips on the next page to create your own!

Emojis should be universal. The symbol you create should be as easy to understand for people in Italy as it is for people in Japan. 

Emojis should be universal. The symbol you create should be as easy to understand for people in Italy as it is for people in Japan. 

There are already more than 3,600 emojis. Yours needs to be different from others already out there. 

Also, many ideas can be shown by combining one or more emojis that already exist. For example, there’s no need for a handwashing emoji. That one can be represented with the emojis for a drop of water, soap, and hands. 

There are already more than 3,600 emojis. Yours needs to be different.

Also, many ideas can be shown by combining emojis that already exist. For example, there’s no need for a handwashing emoji. That idea can be shown with the emojis for a drop of water, soap, and hands.

Think about people and cultures that aren’t represented by emojis. In recent years, Unicode has worked to make new symbols more inclusive. 

In 2015, emojis became available in a range of skin colors. 

Two years later, Unicode approved an emoji showing a woman wearing a hijab, or head scarf. The set released in 2019 included the first emojis that represent people with disabilities. 

Think about people and cultures that aren’t represented by emojis. Unicode has worked to make new symbols more inclusive.

In 2015, emojis became available in a range of skin colors.

Two years later, Unicode approved an emoji showing a woman wearing a hijab, or head scarf. The set released in 2019 included the first emojis that represent people with disabilities.