OpenMoji is an open source emoji project for everyone! Openmoji offers a wide variety of expressions, skin colors, and special interest categories. Human emotion is a spectrum, along with sexuality and gender expression, and it is important for everyone to feel represented. OpenMoji is open source, so everyone can contribute! It is an ongoing, expanding project that seeks to represent the microcosm of humanity. From all races, identities, and differently abled people all around the world, we all deserve to be seen.
Aside from the inherent social value of this project, it's also a fun thing to be a part of! Who doesn't want to make an emoji? You could create something that gets used and appreciated by people all over the world. How cool is that?! They offer an ongoing list of things, animals, flags, and specialized activities that still need to be added, and there is a guide to help you mimic the Artistic Style for consistency.
Emojis began as an instant messaging phenomenon, but have blossomed into a popular communication tool that gets used every day! There are times when text alone is too impersonal, and the emotion that you're trying to convey gets lost. Emojis provide a shortcut that breaks language barriers so everyone can understand the message. Humans have always used visuals to communicate the passion of a story. Prehistoric man drew on cave walls to bring tales to life, and we're not so different! We communicate differently with the people we are closest to especially, and emojis help us express ourselves without having to say a word.
OpenMoji sees the value of this form of communication, and seeks to continue to diversify its already monumental collection. It is a grass-roots movement started by 3 professors and 60+ students from HfG Schwäbisch Gmünd who decidedly broke away from the limited selection provided by big-tech companies that we're all familiar with. OpenMoji also has a warmer artistic style with rounded edges that has a more homemade, cozy feel to them. They have heart behind their work, and it shows. :) For more information click here https://github.com/hfg-gmuend/openmoji.
