Google recently redesigned its emojis to offer 53 non-binary characters in an effort to be more inclusive and have diverse representation available in the way the vast majority of the world communicates.
Tackling the concept of gender-ambiguous emojis was left to Jennifer Daniel, the designer at Google. She notes: "I personally don’t believe there is one visual design solution at all, but I do believe to avoid it is the wrong approach here. We can’t avoid race, gender, any other number of things in culture and class. You have to stare it in the face in order to understand it. That’s what we’re trying to do–to [find] the signifiers that make something feel either male or female, or both male and female."
Gender Fluid Emojis
Google Expanded its Emoji Collection with 53 Non-Binary Characters
Trend Themes
1. Inclusive Emojis - The creation of more non-binary emojis presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for tech companies to expand the representation of underrepresented groups in their digital products and expand their user base.
2. Gender-neutral Branding - The move towards gender-neutral emojis presents a trend towards gender-neutral branding, which could be disruptive to traditional gender-based advertising and marketing strategies.
3. Cultural Sensitivity - The need to consider cultural sensitivity in emoji design presents a trend towards inclusivity, and an opportunity for companies to incorporate more diverse perspectives into their products.
Industry Implications
1. Tech Industry - The tech industry can benefit from the trend for inclusive emojis by designing more diverse digital products, expanding user engagement, and creating innovative solutions for underrepresented groups.
2. Marketing Industry - The marketing industry can benefit from the trend towards gender-neutral branding by rethinking traditional gender-based marketing strategies to reach wider, more diverse audiences.
3. Design Industry - The design industry can benefit from the trend towards cultural sensitivity in emoji design by incorporating new approaches that challenge traditional design thinking and provide more diverse perspectives.