MoMA Has Added Shigetaka Kurita's Original Emojis to Its Permanent Collection
Joey Haar — October 27, 2016 — Art & Design
References: medium & fastcodesign
Today, emojis are so ingrained in digital language that it's easy to forget how revolutionary they are as a concept, but MoMA is keeping the historical significance of emojis relevant by including the works of Shigetaka Kurita. That's because Shigetaka Kurita is the designer of the original 176 emojis that graced cell phone keyboards back in 1999.
These original emojis are almost unrecognizable when compared to the colorful, textured icons that are available today. Released by NTT DOCOMO in 1999, the original set of 176 emojis were monochromatic (either plain black or just a single color) and comprised just 144 pixels each. Considering that degree of limitation, the clarity and variability of Shigetaka Kurita's emojis are impressive enough to deserve encasement in a museum.
These original emojis are almost unrecognizable when compared to the colorful, textured icons that are available today. Released by NTT DOCOMO in 1999, the original set of 176 emojis were monochromatic (either plain black or just a single color) and comprised just 144 pixels each. Considering that degree of limitation, the clarity and variability of Shigetaka Kurita's emojis are impressive enough to deserve encasement in a museum.
Trend Themes
1. Evolution of Emojis - The historical significance of emojis as a concept presents opportunities for developing more dynamic and expressive emoji designs.
2. Digital Language Communication - The widespread use of emojis highlights the need for advancements in visual communication tools and platforms.
3. Visual Design Innovation - The transformation of emojis from basic monochromatic icons to colorful, textured representations presents opportunities for creative design innovations.
Industry Implications
1. Mobile Technology - As emojis are primarily used in digital communication, the mobile technology industry can explore ways to enhance emoji user experience and functionality.
2. Art and Design - The inclusion of emojis in art museums like MoMA opens up new avenues for exploring the intersection of technology and artistic expression.
3. Digital Marketing - Developing innovative and engaging emoji-based marketing campaigns can help businesses connect with consumers in a visual and relatable way.
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