The smiley face is one of the most recognizable symbols in the world, used to convey happiness, positivity and good humor. But who exactly invented this iconic image and where did it originate? Here we explore the history and origins of the classic yellow smiley face.
History of the Smiley
The origins of the smiley face can be traced back to 1963 in Worcester, Massachusetts. Harvey Ball, a graphic artist, was employed by State Mutual Life Assurance Company to create a morale-boosting symbol for a campaign to improve employee satisfaction. Ball came up with a simple, circular yellow face with two black dots for eyes and an uplifted half-moon for a smiling mouth. This original design was printed on badges and posters and handed out around the office.
The image struck a chord and soon became a hit. By 1971 over 50 million smiley face buttons had been sold. As the smiley grew in popularity, other designers started building on Ball’s work, adding new details like a nose, hair or animating the image. The smiley became a defining symbol of 1970s pop culture, used extensively on merchandise, clothing and advertising.
So while Harvey Ball was the original inventor of the smiley face, the iconic image we know today emerged through a collaborative, iterative process of different designers adding their own creative touches over time. The basic form – a round, yellow face with simple features conveying a sense of joy and positivity – remains at the heart of the smiley’s appeal decades after its creation.
Harvey Ball – The Original Smiley Face Inventor
Harvey Ball was an American commercial artist born in 1921 in Worcester, Massachusetts. After serving as a soldier in World War II, Ball worked for an advertising firm before becoming a freelance artist. He was hired in 1963 by State Mutual Life Assurance Company to create a morale-boosting image to raise spirits among employees after a corporate merger.
Ball started doodling different smiley faces before settling on a simple design – a bright yellow circle with two black oval eyes and a wide, half-moon smile. The image conveyed a sense of joy and optimism. Ball was paid just $45 for his creation. The buttons and posters were an instant hit at State Mutual.
As the smiley grew beyond the company into a mainstream pop culture symbol, Ball never trademarked his design and earned just a fraction of the profits from smiley merchandise sales. He seemed content just being known as the inventor of a image that brought happiness around the world. Ball passed away in 2001 at age 79.
While other designers iterated on the smiley face over the years, Harvey Ball’s original 1963 creation remains the foundation for the universally recognized symbol of positivity and good cheer. He brought the simple pencil sketch to life as a powerful icon of its era.
Smiley Face Variations
Since Harvey Ball created the first smiley face in 1963, there have been thousands of iterations, variations and adaptations of the classic image. Here are some of the most notable smiley evolutions over the decades:
The “Have a Nice Day” face – In 1971, brothers Bernard and Murray Spain created the “Have a Nice Day” face, adding the word slogan below the smiley. They sold millions of bumper stickers, iron-on patches and other merchandise.
The nose and sunglasses – In 1972, Franklin Loufrani of Smiley World added a nose and sunglasses to the classic smiley, bringing it a bit closer to resembling an actual human face.
Animation – In the 1970s and 80s, smiley faces started being animated for video games, TV shows, movies and commercials, allowing the image to move, blink and express more emotions.
Emoji – The classic smiley evolved into hundreds of different emoji with emotions like laughter, sadness, anger and surprise. There are now over 3,000 emoji available.
Memes – Smileys and other emoji have become key components of internet memes, often adding humor or expression to written text.
Branding – Companies like Walmart put their own branding spin on the smiley in logos and marketing. The face remains globally associated with positivity and cheer.
So while the original smiley remains recognized worldwide, it has evolved in thousands of creative new directions across media and pop culture over the past 50 years. The image continues to convey joy and good humor even as styles and technologies change.
The Story of SmileyWorld
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1971 | Brothers Bernard and Murray Spain print 50 million “Have A Nice Day” smiley face items |
| 1972 | Franklin Loufrani creates smiley with nose and sunglasses for SmileyWorld brand |
| 1996 | Loufrani’s son Nicolas Loufrani starts licensing Smiley brand internationally |
| 1997 | First SmileyWorld shop opens in London |
| 2001 | Original Harvey Ball smiley inducted into Madison Square Garden’s Walk of Fame |
| 2017 | Smiley celebrates 50th anniversary with events and merchandise globally |
While Harvey Ball created the original smiley face, the Loufrani family and SmileyWorld built one of the largest brands around the iconic image. Here are some key moments in SmileyWorld history:
– In 1971, Bernard and Murray Spain helped popularize the smiley with their “Have A Nice Day” merchandise. Over 50 million items were sold.
– The next year, French journalist Franklin Loufrani created a new version of the classic smiley with a nose, eyebrows and sunglasses. He founded the SmileyWorld brand to promote this version as a symbol of positivity.
– In 1996, Loufrani’s son Nicolas launched an international licensing operation for the SmileyWorld brand. Products with the smiley image started appearing globally.
– The first SmileyWorld shop opened in London in 1997, selling a wide range of smiley-branded products. More stores later opened in Europe, Asia and America.
– Harvey Ball’s original smiley design was added to Madison Square Garden’s Walk of Fame in 2001, recognizing its cultural impact.
– In 2017, SmileyWorld held global events and released commemorative merchandise to celebrate the smiley’s 50th anniversary. The image remains iconic five decades later.
Through clever licensing, iterations and promotions, SmileyWorld ensured the smiley left its mark across generations and cultures, solidifying it as a universally uplifting symbol.
Impact and Legacy of the Smiley Face
Since its inception in 1963, the smiley face has had a widespread cultural impact as an iconic symbol of positivity and good cheer:
– It captured the zeitgeist of 1970s pop culture and formed a defining part of the decade’s aesthetic across fashion, advertising, music and design.
– The image conveyed a sense of optimism during the anxious Cold War era, with the simple smile bringing a bit of lightness to headlines about global turmoil.
– Licensing the image commercially helped ensure its longevity, with the smiley remaining relevant on merchandise and products for over 50 years and counting.
– The smiley became one of the most instantly recognizable symbols worldwide, with over 90% of people across cultures familiar with it. This universality helps it maintain positivity across languages.
– Digitally, the smiley evolved into hundreds of emoji expressing different emotions, allowing people to communicate visually in the digital age.
– Elements of the smiley’s distinct visual style are echoed in popular culture through emoticons, memes, animation and mascots like Walmart’s yellow smiley face logo.
– Its legacy continues through SmileyWorld’s efforts to celebrate the image and what it represents – their slogan is “Smileys make the world a happier place.”
Few symbols have stood the test of time like the smiley has. Harvey Ball’s simple but uplifting creation continues to spread joy and positivity to millions worldwide over 50 years after it was first drawn.
Conclusion
The smiley face remains one of the most impactful and recognizable symbols ever created. While Harvey Ball designed the original smiley in 1963, many others creatively iterated on and promoted the image over decades, allowing it to become the globally known icon it is today. The smiley spread a message of positivity and cheer throughout the anxieties of the 20th century and on into the digital age. More than just a pop culture fad, it became a visual shorthand for happiness and goodwill. The enduring power of a simple smile continues to bring people together across cultures. Fifty years later, we have Harvey Ball to thank for providing the world with an uplifting symbol that still brightens our days.
