Adobe has released its Global Emoji Diversity & Inclusion Report surveying 7,000 global emoji users. The survey emphatically shows that the vast majority of global emoji users agree that emoji should continue to strive for more inclusive representation of users. Only half of global emoji users feel their identity is adequately reflected in current emoji options. 76% of emoji users agree that emoji are an important communication tool for creating unity, respect and understanding of one another, while 70% agree that inclusive emoji can help spark positive conversations about important cultural and societal issues. And nearly half of emoji users say people should not use emoji skin tone modifiers that do not match their racial identity (47%) and using the wrong tone is insensitive and uncomfortable (48%).
In light of these findings, Adobe is partnering with Emojination, a grassroots organization that advocates for more inclusive and representative emoji, and is dedicated to helping emoji seekers navigate the complicated and arduous Unicode approval process. Over 100 emoji have successfully been shepherded through the proposal process by Emojination – including interracial couples, arepa, long drum, boomerang, falafel, dumpling, hijab, sari, llama, bagel, matryoshka doll, woman’s flat shoe, lobster, ball of yarn, and broom. In 2020, Emojination’s work was recognized by Fast Company as a finalist for Innovative Design in the categories of General Excellence and Graphic Design, while Emojination’s work on inclusive design was collected by the Smithsonian’s Cooper Hewitt Museum as part of its permanent collection.
Through the partnership, Adobe and Emojination will continue to support the development of new emoji proposals. “Adobe’s support has been critical to Emojination’s five-year push for more inclusive and representative emoji, as it allows us to provide support to the passionate individuals who are pushing to see themselves and their cultures represented,” said Jennifer 8. Lee, a co-founder of Emojination. “Adobe has a long history of working to diversify emoji, including the effort by Adobe designer, Paul Hunt, to push for more gender-neutral human designs which we see on our emoji keyboards today.” Hunt has written a new blogpost exploring the issues involved.
