Noto 3D Emoji

2026
Art DirectionDesignDevelopmentInternal ToolingAccessibility Specification

We redrew 4,000 emoji images to increases their their quality and visual legibility. I art directed the creation of style guidelines, made tooling, and drafted other accessibility and color specifications to move the project forward. Each emoji also exists as a digital 3D object. These 3D objects will be open source.... soon!

I created tooling, design and accessibility guidelines, and prototypes to speed up and create this redesign.

The redesign

We supercharged our original 2D designs by adding dimensionality. The skeuomorphic design reflects Google's brand refresh: the age of AI is dimensional, premium, and accessible. Designers drew and sculpted every shape in the new set by hand, and AI was consulted to help aid in improving visual accessibility.

AI as a collaborator and accessibility auditor

I built an AI tool that checks edge contrast. It flags pixel areas around the edge that fail color contrast and suggests fixes. Our designers collaborated with the AI tool and built the final font using its guidance as a starting point.

My role

I helped write the design guidelines. The core principle: quality and character of the 2D set while adding dimension and physicality. I helped write accessibility guidelines and make accessibility tooling to ensure that emoji are legible on both light and dark surfaces.

We also checked the set against the other vendors during every part of the design process and nudged the visual style to get a bit closer to Apple and Samsung, while still keeping our charm.

Google (before)Google (after)AppleSamsung
Red HeartRed Heart, Google (before) designRed Heart, Google (after) designRed Heart, Apple designRed Heart, Samsung design
Loudly Crying FaceLoudly Crying Face, Google (before) designLoudly Crying Face, Google (after) designLoudly Crying Face, Apple designLoudly Crying Face, Samsung design
Distorted FaceDistorted Face, Google (before) designDistorted Face, Google (after) designDistorted Face, Apple designDistorted Face, Samsung design
Party PopperParty Popper, Google (before) designParty Popper, Google (after) designParty Popper, Apple designParty Popper, Samsung design

Interoperability

It's important for emoji to render the same way cross platform. We redrew where ours fell short.

Google (before)Google (after)AppleSamsung
Face in CloudsFace in Clouds, Google (before) designFace in Clouds, Google (after) designFace in Clouds, Apple designFace in Clouds, Samsung design
WheelWheel, Google (before) designWheel, Google (after) designWheel, Apple designWheel, Samsung design
Thought BalloonThought Balloon, Google (before) designThought Balloon, Google (after) designThought Balloon, Apple designThought Balloon, Samsung design
JellyfishJellyfish, Google (before) designJellyfish, Google (after) designJellyfish, Apple designJellyfish, Samsung design
Ice CreamIce Cream, Google (before) designIce Cream, Google (after) designIce Cream, Apple designIce Cream, Samsung design
Tropical FishTropical Fish, Google (before) designTropical Fish, Google (after) designTropical Fish, Apple designTropical Fish, Samsung design

Visual accessibility

At message size, pale subjects on white lose their edges. We redrew these with defined edges at the same visual weight.

Google (before)Google (after)AppleSamsung
TornadoTornado, Google (before) designTornado, Google (after) designTornado, Apple designTornado, Samsung design
CloudCloud, Google (before) designCloud, Google (after) designCloud, Apple designCloud, Samsung design
ToothTooth, Google (before) designTooth, Google (after) designTooth, Apple designTooth, Samsung design
Dashing AwayDashing Away, Google (before) designDashing Away, Google (after) designDashing Away, Apple designDashing Away, Samsung design

Dark mode presents dark subjects on dark backgrounds. These hold their edges on both surfaces.

Google (before)Google (after)AppleSamsung
Black CatBlack Cat, Google (before) designBlack Cat, Google (after) designBlack Cat, Apple designBlack Cat, Samsung design
BearBear, Google (before) designBear, Google (after) designBear, Apple designBear, Samsung design
Black BirdBlack Bird, Google (before) designBlack Bird, Google (after) designBlack Bird, Apple designBlack Bird, Samsung design
Black HeartBlack Heart, Google (before) designBlack Heart, Google (after) designBlack Heart, Apple designBlack Heart, Samsung design

Leaked Android 17 build showing the redesigned set in the system keyboard

Working with stakeholders

I worked with research, design, marketing, and our collaborating firm.

I worked with design leadership (Jennifer Daniel) early on to write the color contrast guidelines and set art direction. I worked with our researcher (Alexander Robertson) to keep design decisions and tool work aligned with our research. I built assets with marketing for the blog posts and the other surfaces that carried the launch. And I worked with Huge from the start on internal tools that sped up color contrast auditing, mockup creation, emoji comparison, and slide deck generation.

Ricky Yurewitch

Noto 3D Emoji