It's been 50 years since the iconic smiley face first appeared, used by journalist Franklin Loufrani to highlight sections with good news in the newspaper. Today, this symbol is more important than ever, as it gave birth to emoticons (emojis) that have revolutionized our ability to express our feelings through digital communication. It's rare for an icon to have such a long reach, and yet the smiley shows no signs of fading!
To celebrate Smiley World's bicentennial, we've teamed up with French-Swedish artist André Saraiva to create a limited edition collection of remixed smileys! André's playful, graffiti-inspired expressions give the smiley a new dimension while highlighting what makes it so special.
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Mr. A
André's Mr. A character meets the smiley face! Mr. A was first used as a tag in the 90s, covering the streets, buildings and metro of Paris. This cheeky character appeared at a time when most tags were text-based, which made the use of André's characters somewhat revolutionary, and quickly brought him acclaim and attention.
Mr. A, like the smiley face, was used as a form of communication, emotional expression and connection with the citizens of Paris. This makes it a perfect match for the smiley face! The combination of the X and O eyes, a comical form of winking, with the smiley face creates an artistic evolution of this 50 year old icon.
Mrs. A
The "Mrs. A" LED light sign may look like Mr. A, but don't be fooled! It has its own personality and significance in Andre's design history. The eyelashes add a fashionable touch, sure, but it's the hot pink that counts.
In the 90s, the brightest yellows and reds were used in graffiti, inspired by the hip-hop scene. Andre mixed things up once again by using pink, a color he says is"the color that makes all the other colors sound good." This lighter color palette gives the smiley face a touch of bold style!
Heart
According to one of Andre's good friends, Oliveir Zahm,"In Andre's world, designs have a special currency, like sweet bills for sharing Love." If this is the case, then this neon sign is the embodiment of his goal to share love.
The traditional heart symbol is joined by the expressive X's and O's of Andre's characters, a wry smile and an accented flourish that pops in contrasting white neon. It's an energetic design that captures both the spirit of the smiley and the love the world has for it. Use it to create a loving and inspiring space for your child!
Magician
There is something undeniably magical about a symbol that can bring us together, that we can use as a shorthand for emotional communication. This neon sign captures that with a remixed smiley face topped with a wizard hat.
This playful neon artwork is the perfect way to capture a child's enthusiasm for the wonderful world and magic. His stick-like arms and grinning expression add an extra touch of personality to the design.
Dancing Lady
The playfulness of the smiley face is fully realized in this neon sign. Andre's iconic stick figure of Mrs. A combines with the smiley face silhouette and smile to create an energetic piece of art.
Both the stick figure and the smiling face have graced the walls of international cities, t-shirts, bags and other materials around the world. Now they join forces in the neon light, embodying your child's playful spirit and free expression.
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The smiley face has inspired people of all ages for five decades, and now it can continue to share positivity, joy and inspiration with a new generation. Andre Saraiva's emphasis on playfulness and self-expression blends perfectly with the smiley's boundless enthusiasm. The result of this collaboration is a set of limited edition emotional expressions that do more than reinvent an icon, they will help you become cool again!
You can use these signs to create a space focused on play, to help your child learn to interpret and express their own feelings, and to encourage creative exploration as they grow. After 50 years, the smiling face is still as important as it was in the early 1970s. Share this icon with your children, updated by the world-renowned artist, to shed a loving light on their lives!