HipChat Emoji Refresh

Challenge

Emojis are a core interface element in modern communication, used across both personal and professional contexts. The primary challenge was designing emojis that remained clear, expressive, and recognizable at extremely small sizes—down to 24×24 pixels—without losing character or usability.

Solution

I led the art direction by defining a cohesive emoji system through sketches, mood boards, and clear design rules. The system focused on consistent proportions, simplified forms, and controlled detail, ensuring each emoji could scale while maintaining visual clarity and personality within real-world product constraints.

Result

The final emoji set balanced expressiveness with legibility, creating a scalable system that performed reliably across platforms and use cases. This approach improved usability at small sizes while establishing a flexible foundation that could evolve over time.

Sketch