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Designing emoji for the way we communicate today

blog.google

July 17, 2026

3 min read

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47/100

Summary

Emoji usage has evolved from literal representations to conveying nuanced emotions and subtext in communication. They now serve as a supplemental language that enhances messages and prevents misunderstandings.

Key Takeaways

Emoji usage has evolved from literal representations to conveying complex emotional subtext, reflecting changes in modern communication styles.
The Noto 3D emoji update introduces fully three-dimensional models, enhancing expressiveness while prioritizing user comprehension through design research.
An AI-powered contrast tool was developed to improve visibility of emoji with darker skin tones in dark mode by ensuring adequate contrast levels.
The entire Noto 3D emoji portfolio is open source, allowing users to remix and adapt the designs for various applications.

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Community Sentiment

Mixed

Positives

The industry is slowly consolidating around Apple's emoji design, which could lead to more consistency across platforms — a win for user communication.
Redesigning emojis to fit modern design trends is a valid approach, as it allows for better integration with the overall user experience of an operating system.

Concerns

3D modeling emojis seems pointless, as the article fails to address practical user needs — it feels like a self-inflicted problem.
Many commenters feel that emojis have reached their final form and that further 'innovation' is unnecessary and even detrimental.
The lack of visual comparisons in the article makes it feel uninformative, leaving readers wanting more concrete details about the new emoji designs.