Emoji Proposal

Emoji Ecosystem

A formal submission to the Unicode Consortium requesting the addition of a new emoji, evaluated on criteria like expected usage and distinctiveness.

Anyone can propose a new emoji by submitting a formal document to the Unicode Consortium. Proposals must include selection factors like expected usage frequency, image distinctiveness, completeness (filling a gap), and whether existing emoji or ZWJ sequences can already represent the concept.

The process typically takes 1-2 years from proposal to release. Proposals go through review by the Emoji Subcommittee, then the Unicode Technical Committee, before final approval.

Notable successful proposals include the accessibility emoji set (wheelchair, hearing aid, etc.), the pirate flag, and many cultural food items.

Related Terms

Emoji Subcommittee (ESC) Emoji Subcommittee (ESC)
The Unicode working group responsible for reviewing emoji proposals, setting encoding guidelines, and recommending new emoji for approval. Emoji Version Emoji Version
The release version in which an emoji was first introduced, following an annual release cadence since Emoji 4.0 (2016). Unicode Consortium Unicode Consortium
The non-profit organization that develops and maintains the Unicode Standard, including the process for adding new emoji.

Related Tools

📊 Emoji Stats Emoji Stats
Explore statistics about the Unicode emoji set — category distribution, version growth, type breakdown.