Microsoft reveals the source of 3D emojis, allowing creators to remix and customize them

Microsoft has unlocked over 1,500 3D emoji that authors can remix and create. Almost all of Microsoft’s 1,538 emoji libraries are Figma and github Starting today, Microsoft hopes to encourage more creativity and inclusion in the emoji space.

While Microsoft released the files Emoji in Windows 11 last year and 3D version of Microsoft Teams As of February, the company had no plans to initially open its source of work. Microsoft design and research expert John Friedman said in an interview: Defecating“This idea is still in its infancy, and we believe the more open we are inside and out, the more unique products we can manufacture, and the more relevant they are to humanity as a whole.” outlook. “

Microsoft has spent a lot of time on the overall design and diverse needs of emoji across different peoples, religions, and countries. The result is over 1,500 emojis in custom skin tones. Colors are bright, saturated and focus on enjoyment at work. Clippy was also introduced as an alternative to Clip emoji, which is one of the few emojis that will not be open source due to Microsoft’s trademark legal requirements.

Microsoft now wants creators to explore new ways to build on emojis. “Internally at Microsoft, we are one design community that can do very little, or do very little,” explains Friedman. “We want to be part of the community and help them see and do more that reaches people in unique and globally relevant ways.”

Most of Microsoft’s bright and colorful 3D emojis can be used by content creators and combined into stickers, used in their own content, or their own emoji collections. “I think we’re seeing really unique and specific things, and we think we’re seeing broadly applicable ideas,” says Friedman. Someone had made a Marvel version of the code for . It was great, it was great. creative expression.

When the community starts experimenting, we’ll see creators use Microsoft emojis to express holiday themes, even more unique skin tones and creativity. It’s easy to imagine Halloween combinations of emojis or emojis specific to a particular region or religion.

One of the reasons Microsoft announced the opening of emoji source is the changing business case. Remote and hybrid working forces companies and employees to work differently, which makes the way they express themselves through text even more important.

Looking at the pandemic, Friedman says pre-pandemic thinking about workplace professionalism changed with hybrid work and emojis. “One of the things that’s starting to happen with Teams is people using honest reactions. Or using emojis in your writing,” says Friedman.

“Facial expressions and body language were separate from our communication…so we ended up having other rich conversations that were almost as interactive as the video chats we were having,” says Friedman. “Emojis are starting to play a bigger and bigger role…and with that, people are getting more used to really interacting with things emotionally.”

Photo: Microsoft

Our design team is excited to see how the creative community builds their emoji library. The original Emoji roots have evolved from Japan and their tradition of creating images through prints, illustrations, and animations. “There is power in recognizing, honoring, and building on the work of others,” says Friedman. “Our community of creators is endlessly creative, and we look forward to seeing how you can push boundaries, remix designs, and take Fluent Emoji to unexpected places.”

Personally, I hope that the creative freedom of the community will allow Microsoft to enable system-wide emoji replacement, allowing Windows users to add emojis for different holidays and other themes. At least, I’m sure Windows 11 users would love to see the actual version. 3D version of Microsoft’s emoji It will appear in the company’s operating system one day.