Several terms redirect here. For other uses, see Smiley Face (disambiguation) and Happy face (disambiguation).
Example of a smiley faceAn example of an emoticon smiley face (represented using a colon followed by a parenthesis) used in direct communication, as seen in this screenshot of an email.
A smiley, sometimes called a smiley face, is a basic ideogram representing a smiling face.[1][2] Since the 1950s, it has become part of popular culture worldwide, used either as a standalone ideogram or as a form of communication, such as emoticons. The smiley began as two dots and a line representing eyes and a mouth. More elaborate designs in the 1950s emerged, with noses, eyebrows, and outlines. New York radio station WMCA used a yellow and black design for its "Good Guys" campaign in the early 1960s.[3][4][5] More yellow-and-black designs appeared in the 1960s and 1970s, including works by Harvey Ross Ball in 1963,[6][5][7] and Franklin Loufrani in 1971.[8][9][10] Today, The Smiley Company founded by Franklin Loufrani claims to hold the rights to the smiley face in over 100 countries. It has become one of the top 100 licensing companies globally.
There was a smile fad in 1971 in the United States.[11][12][4][13] The Associated Press (AP) reported in September 1971 that "two affiliated insurance companies" claimed credit for the symbol and Harvey Ball designed it; Bernard and Murray Spain claimed credit for introducing it to the market.[14] In October 1971[8] Loufrani trademarked his design in France while working as a journalist for France Soir.[8][15][16]
Today, the smiley face has evolved from an ideogram into a template for communication and use in written language. The internet smiley began with Scott Fahlman in the 1980s when he first theorized ASCII characters could be used to create faces and demonstrate emotion in text. Since then, Fahlman's designs have become digital pictograms known as emoticons.[17] They are loosely based on the ideograms designed in the 1960s and 1970s, continuing with the yellow and black design.
^Smiley-The Oxford dictionary of new words : a popular guide to words in the news(1991)
^"New York "Good Guys" show". Billboard. 20 July 1963.
^ abAmerican fads by Richard A Johnson, 1985, p 121-124
^ abAdams, Cecil (23 April 1993). "Who invented the smiley face?". The Straight Dope. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
^Ethridge, Mark. “Several Firms Claim to Be Originators of Smile Button.” Nashua Telegraph. September 9, 1971.
^Stamp, Jimmy (13 March 2013). Who really invented the Smiley face. Washington DC: Smithsonian. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
^ abc"Wal-Mart fights to keep the smiley face:Retail giant says symbol personifies its price-reducing policy, but London-based firm says it secured rights years ago". CNN Money. 5 July 2006.
^Les marques françaises : 150 ans de graphisme, 1824-1974 = French trademarks by Amiot, Edith(1990) p 236
^INPI Brand: FR1199660 ***RENEWAL*** OF THE DEPOSIT MADE ON OCTOBER 1, 1971 AT THE INPI No. 120.846 AND REGISTERED UNDER No. 832.277
^Fad Is Sweeping Charlotte - A Little Smile That's Going Places, The Charlotte News, Charlotte, North Carolina, Fri, Jul 9, 1971, Page 5. Retrieved 31 Jan 2024
^LATEST NATIONAL FAD Smiling Faces Now Appear On Everything From Ear Screws To Blue Jeans, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Lubbock, Texas, Fri, Sep 3, 1971, Page 80 (part 1) and (part 2) Retrieved 31 Jan 2024
^Put On A Happy Face, Time, August 30, 1971, Page 36
^Nation in quest of symbol takes 'smile' pin to heart, Press-Telegram Long Beach, California, Sat, Sep 11, 1971, Page 10 Retrieved 31 Jan 2024
^History(of smiley by The Smiley company by way of The Wayback Machine)
^Fifty years and $500m: the happy business of the smiley symbol
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