Most know Smiley® as the leading light in an expanding cast of digital characters, but past roles as a symbol of peace, partying and counterculture have given it a resumé rarely achieved in graphic design. Simple and direct, our essential ZERO silhouette heightens Smiley’s powers of positivity. A collaboration with André Saraiva salutes the design icon’s jubilee year in editions of 365. Take the time to smile!
In 1972, a journalist at France-Soir had the idea of using a yellow smiley face to tag the day’s good-news stories. The practice caught on. Fifty years later, Smiley® is an icon and a global byword for positivity.
A special one-off anniversary edition uses art by André Saraiva to celebrate five decades of positive vibes. Bright yellow graffiti script translates “Prenez le temps de sourire” – the original banner that greeted readers in 1972.
Artistic subversion has always been a part of the Smiley® oeuvre. Here, a spray-paint icon cap and hand-enamelled slogan lend a smile to the enigmatic ZERO. Edition number and artist’s signature are engraved in metal.
An extra dose of happiness greets fountain pen users every day: a beaming smile is engraved into a custom 14K yellow gold nib. Fuel it – and your imagination – with a complimentary bottle of special-edition Smiley® ink.
