How to Write the Worst Emoji Proposal Ever

A masterclass in getting my emoji rejected

Today, the Unicode Consortium has officially opened 2025’s window for emoji proposals. Are you ready to submit an idea? Incredible. The world is obviously suffering from a severe emoji shortage and your concept — a paper bag —is the missing piece of the puzzle 🧩

Every year, a substantial amount of documents are submitted but only a select few make the cut. And yet, you remain undeterred. The odds are stacked against you, but you’re all in. I see you. I respect the hustle. 💪

In the past, tips, tricks, and pointers have been offered to help us craft the perfect emoji proposal. But this year? Let’s take a different approach. Let’s write a proposal so aggressively terrible it’ll call for the end of emoji altogether. 💀😎👻😜😈

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1. Pick an Emoji Idea That Has No Symbolic Meaning ⚗️

If your emoji idea is visually iconic, has symbolic, metaphorical, and multiple meanings beyond literally representing itself, congratulations! You’ve already failed at failing. Instead, aim for something absurdly specific.

• “Yellow apple” emoji (Granny apples are sour 🍏 and red apples are mealy 🍎)

• “Hair dryer” (hellloooo grwm 🪞🪮💁)

• “A second identical taco” emoji 🌮🌮 (Just typing it twice is too much work)

2. Ignore the Submission Guidelines 🙉

Unicode has a detailed submission requirements. Why follow instructions when you can go off script?

• Leave out critical sections like “expected frequency of use” and “factors for exclusion” and replace with anecdotal screenshots from social media.

• Propose an emoji from an excluded category.

• Circulate a change.org petition instead of filling out this form and attaching a pdf.

• Set your document to “private” so no one can read it 🫣

3. Propose an Emoji That is Already Representable 🤡

Submitting a request for something that’s already an emoji or similar to what already exists is one way to spend your time, I guess.

• New ROFL Emoji 🤣 (but tilted the other direction)

• Squirrel 🐿️ (Everyone knows they are not the same as a chipmunk!)

• Traffic Cone (W⚠️A🦺R⛑️N👷🏻IN🚧G🏗)

• Garbage Fire 🗑️🔥 (Everything is not fine)

4. Design Something That’s Not Legible at Emoji Sizes 👀

Want to watch designers cry? Suggest an emoji that simply is not visually disctinctive at emoji scale, like:

• “Toothpick” (Might as well ask people to search for a needle in a haystack)

• “Pillow” (Or, is that a piece of gum?)

• “Concrete” emoji (No defining features unless it’s part of a specific structure)

5. Base Your Proposal on a New Fad or Current Event 📰

To ensure your emoji is outdated before it’s even approved, consider proposing something inspired by a current event, meme, or viral moment. (Note: The entire process can sometimes take as long as two years! And, once an emoji is added to the Unicode Standard, it is never removed 🌠)

• Baby Yoda (Not to mention copyright problems)

• The Doge emoji (wow, such rejection, very failure)

• Elbow Bump (See also: Footshakes)

6. Don’t Back Your Proposal with Evidence 📊

Forget actual justifications — just vibe your way through the submission process with anecdotal evidence and little to no sources. Try lines like:

• "Hey Nerds. This emoji is very important for reasons that should be obvious."

• "This emoji is deeply important to lovers of (insert cute animal)."

• "Everyone will definitely use this, here are some obscure puns."

• “We have four mailbox emoji surely we can add one database emoji.”

• “Without this emoji, civilization may collapse.” 😱

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And there you have it — the definitive guide to what not to do when drafting an emoji proposal. When every idea has merit it’s hard to know where to start or stop but hopefully now you’re now ready to write the best emoji proposal ever!!!!! Good luck and happy emoji-ing! ✨🤸🕳️✨