However, the story behind the graphic motif isnt as cheerful as you might expect.
Who Invented the Smiley Face?
Ball was paid a whopping $45 for his now world-renowned visual.
Photo:Stock Photosfrom Alzay/Shutterstock
Its unknown whether the happy memorabilia did the trick; however, the image quickly gained popularity.
Yellow smiley faces started popping up on everything, from greeting cards and stickers to T-shirts and key rings.
The brothers sold more than 50 million smiley buttons and countless other products featuring Balls original graphic.
Their aim was to turn a profit while attempting to gain back Americas optimism during the Vietnam War.
He knew that any effort to improve the world, no matter how small, was worthwhile.
And he understood the power of a smile and a kind act.
Harvey Ball (seated) at 35th Anniversary of Smiley public signing event in Worcester MA (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)
He said:
I propose that the following character sequence for joke markers:
Read it sideways.
Actually, it is probably more economical to mark things that are NOT jokes, given current trends.
Photo:Stock Photosfrom Stephen Plaster/Shutterstock
Frequently Asked Questions
Who invented the smiley face?
Smiley face on display at the Worcester, Massachusetts Historical Museum (Photo: Garchy viaWikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 4.0)
It is widely accepted that American graphic artist and ad man Harvey Ross Ball invented the smiley face.
When was the smiley face invented?
Harvey Ross Ball invented the smiley face in 1963 in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Photo:Stock Photosfrom Stephen Plaster/Shutterstock
What does a smiley face symbolize?
The smiley face is a simple representation of joy, peace, and optimism.
Its meaning has evolved over time, but it is almost always a symbol of positive feelings and reactions.
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