Emojiguity: using emojis with consideration, compassion and care
Wednesday 20 March 2024, 20:35 UTC, Stage 1
Emojis might add colour and fun to our content, but they can also be inaccessible and misinterpreted. Learn how to use them creatively, but responsibly.
Emojis! 😃Charming splashes of colour and personality. A well-placed emoji will reinforce the content of our posts and messages. But what if their intended meaning is misread, misunderstood, misinterpreted?
Emoji ambiguity is a risk. Lots of emojis have at least two definitions (and not all of them are suitable for work): the aubergine, the octopus, the recycling symbol. And many more have subtle variations in design, yet significant variations in meaning.
This session will explore how our emojis can lead to inaccessibility. It will then offer advice on how we can continue to use them with greater care.
Please emoji responsibly. 😇
Session takeaway
Knowing the accessibility risks when using emojis and how to be cautious in doing so
Meet your session facilitator
Simon Fairbanks (UK)
Head of Community Engagement, Pickle Jar Communications
Simon Fairbanks has over 15 years of experience in the education sector. This includes student recruitment, marketing, and events roles at four different universities in the UK: Nottingham, Birmingham, Warwick, and Coventry.
Simon is the Head of Community Engagement at Pickle Jar Communications, a content strategy consultancy for the education sector. He helps schools, colleges, and universities share their stories through digital communications.
Simon is an international speaker. He has spoken at a variety of conferences, including CASE, ContentEd, FindAUniversity, HELOA, HighEdWeb, SU Digital, and Utterly Content. He was Chair of the Newcomers Track at CASE Europe Annual Conference from 2020 to 2023.
As a published author, Simon is particularly interested in storytelling in the education sector. He spends his free time reading, writing, running, and finding new ways to make his children laugh.
Languages spoken: English
A global problem they’d love to solve: Poor access to education
Something they can’t be without: Pen and paper