Emojicon 2018 is quickly approaching and is set to be the premier event for designers and tech enthusiasts obsessed with emojis. While this convention may sound ridiculous or childish, the ultimate goal of Emojicon 2018 is to make emojis more accessible and welcome in multiple populations. According to Jeanne Brooks, co-founder of Emojination, the idea of the convention is to cultivate a "community of folks who could move the [emoji] conversation forward."
While the convention is a celebration of all things emoji, Emojicon 2018 will also include a technological aspect for those focused on submitting new emoji ideas. These tech components will raise awareness around Unicode and how the entire process of creating an emoji goes. Unicode currently controls which symbols can be added in the emoji library and this convention will also work to change Unicode, which has been "very white and male" according to Brooks.
Emoji-Focused Conventions
Emojicon 2018 Celebrates Emoji Lovers and Focuses on Representation
Trend Themes
1. Emoji Accessibility - Opportunity to develop innovative ways to make emojis more accessible for diverse populations.
2. Tech-enabled Emoji Creation - Disruptive innovation opportunity to create technology that simplifies the process of submitting new emoji ideas.
3. Diversifying Unicode - Potential for disruptive innovation in changing Unicode's current lack of diversity and inclusivity.
Industry Implications
1. Emoji Design - Opportunity for designers to create emojis with improved accessibility features for diverse populations.
2. Technology - Disruptive innovation opportunity for tech companies to create platforms or tools that streamline the process of emoji submission and representation.
3. Language and Communication - Potential for innovation in language and communication industries to adapt and integrate emojis with diverse meanings and representation.