Maegan-Leigh JacobsA bright yellow face smiling at you from your phone, a red heart beating between messages in a chat, a thumbs up that reaffirms. The ideograms our society calls ‘emojis’ have become a new language in and of themselves, harbouring both overt and secret meanings as they represent the physical in digital form. Emojis are so deeply embedded in our daily communications that they have found their way into visual culture, from art to movies to marketing to stuffed toys.
An exciting new concept at Decorex Cape Town (6-9 June, CTICC), will feature room sets uniquely curated to bring emojis to life in physical form. Visitors to the show can witness the way digital meets physical as prominent local designers take inspiration from the vibrant and playful world of emojis.
‘While the inspiration is playful, the execution will be sophisticated and refined. The designs will not be overtly themed but will subtly incorporate emoji elements, showcasing the designers’ creativity and expertise,’ explains Bielle Bellingham, Executive Creative Director of Decorex Africa.
The emoji display aims to highlight how ‘phygital’ worlds are increasingly intertwined. The goal is to demonstrate inspiration can be taken from digital culture to enrich today’s interior design and make it more relevant to consumers, especially to Gen Z and Gen Alpha who have been born fully immersed in digital technology in a way previous generations have not experienced.
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Taking up the interesting challenge of translating emojis into inspiring physical spaces, are two teams – one from Popstrukt and another comprising wooden flooring specialist Lalegno, working in collaboration with Rumour Has It interior brand architecture and RHi Curate.
Popstrukt will reference the sweet/candy emoji. Known for colourful furniture with names like the Bon Bon Chest of Drawers (now available in a honey-coloured hue) and the Sugar Cube Cabinet, it is easy to see the alignment between this brand and its chosen emoji. Popstrukt will be launching a brand new product that is part of the Bon Bon range at the Sweet Suite and is also running a competition to win one of these over the Decorex weekend.
The sweet/candy emoji resembles a small piece of candy wrapped in plastic or wax paper with twists on its ends. Its shape and colour vary widely by platform. ‘Candy’ was approved as part of Unicode 6.0 in 2010 and added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015. Popstrukt will be creating a themed interior space dubbed the Sweet Suite.
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The Lalegno x Rumour Has It x RHi Curate team has chosen the feather and hut emojis as points of departure. According to Emojipedia, ‘Feather’ was approved as part of Unicode 13.0 in 2020 and added to Emoji 13.0. It is a ‘single feather slanted to one side. On most platforms it’s light brown with a dark brown barred or striped pattern. Can be used to talk about feathers or birds, or to represent something that is lightweight, fluffy, or soft.’
‘Hut’ was also approved as part of Unicode 13.0 in 2020, and added to Emoji 13.0. Generally, it is depicted as a round hut with a thatched roof and is used to talk about huts, cottages, yurts, or homes in general.
The feather and hut emojis will be used as inspiration for bespoke safari and modern glamping decor schemes that encompass colour, texture, shapes, patterns and rhythm. The design team from Rumour Has It chose the feather emoji because a feather is ‘a reminder of the beauty and wonder of nature and symbolises trust, honour, strength, wisdom, power, freedom, respect and admiration.
‘Feathers serve as reminders of the interconnectedness of all living beings, a delicate balance of ecosystems, and the need for stewardship and conservation. As symbols of biodiversity and environmental harmony, feathers inspire reverence for the natural world and a commitment to preserving diversity for future generations,’ they say.
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In the context of the South African bushveld, where the rhythms of nature dictate the ebb and flow of life, feathers ‘symbolise resilience and adaptation. By honouring the symbolism of feathers in the exhibition stand design, we pay homage to the rich tapestry of life that thrives in this ancient landscape,’ Rumour Has It explains.
Different parts of the feather will be reflected within the stand’s design language. These include the calamus (quill), rachis (shaft), the vanes (non-downy feathers; broad, flat structures), and the plumulaceous barbs (branches of softer feathers).
The hut emoji has visual recall for South Africans and Africans in general, as round hut structures are commonplace across the continent as part of vernacular architecture. In response to this trigger, Rumour Has It has planned an end result that will be visually stunning and immersive, combining the allure of being in nature with the luxury of a curated experience.
The emoji-inspired room sets will serve as an exemplary model of what is achievable in interior design, inspiring and delighting attendees
ALSO SEE: 10 of the best inviting interior design elements
Images: Supplied
