Franklin Loufrani: The History of Smiley Movement
Smiley face owner and creator Franklin Loufrani came up with the iconic yellow smiling face graphic in 1972 as part of a ‘feel good’ campaign for a French newspaper. Over the years, the Smiley Company has gone from strength to strength, establishing itself as one of the world’s leading licensing companies and Smiley as a globally recognised trademark.
When Franklin’s son, Nicolas Loufrani, joined the company, he took the brand to the next level, developing a comprehensive visual language. Taking the original Smiley graphic, Nicolas Loufrani created 256 different iterations, with 42 conveying emotions and the others falling into a range of new categories, including occupations, animals, countries, celebrations, planets, flags and more. Nicolas Loufrani’s visual language provided the world with an innovative new logographic system designed to enrich text communications.
He then went on to create a non-profit called Smiley Movement in the spirit of hope and optimism. Operating with the ethos that good news is about people doing good, he helps changemakers from the charity sector promote their causes to the public. Launched with the mission of encouraging creativity for the greater good, Smiley Movement shines a spotlight on causes and people that are driving positive change around the world.
By focusing on those who are already taking action, Smiley Movement empowers others to make a difference too. Whether it is fundraising, donating, volunteering or launching new initiatives, Smiley Movement aims to support those seeking to make the world a better place. The organisation delivers news with a difference, ensuring that every video, article and piece of content it publishes has a positive impact. This can be achieved through encouraging volunteering or donations or simply by raising the public profile of charities that are driving lasting change. Smiley Movement’s ultimate goal is to ensure charities can access the resources they so badly need to continue their vital work.
Aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, Smiley Movement is focused on apolitical, solutions-based journalism, championing stories that empower, uplift and inspire via Smiley News. Through its positive news, Smiley Movement presents stories of kindness, innovation, and community impact, showing the world at its best and effectively demonstrating that change is possible when people work together.
By highlighting the incredible staff, volunteers, ambassadors and beneficiaries of charities, Smiley Movement hopes to not only spread positivity but also inspire action. Smiley Movement prioritises solutions-focused content, recognising that the world is changing for the better and aiming to be on the front line of every moment. Through uplifting videos and inspiring features published in Smiley News, Smiley Movement showcases the work of causes and people who are on a mission to have a positive impact.
Smiley Movement’s thought-provoking Speak-Up! panel talks bring together inspiring changemakers to discuss how society can work together to make the world a better place. In addition, the organisation also hosts the annual Charity Film Awards, presenting the world’s largest cause-based film festival and creating a platform for charity films to garner recognition for incredible causes.
Smiley Movement continues to champion the spread of happiness and positivity, reinforcing this work through projects that bring smiles to people in need. The movement was launched by Nicolas Loufrani in 2017, recognising a gap in the market between people seeking opportunities to give back and the millions of deserving causes in urgent need of support at a local or global level.
Smiley Movement curates and hosts regular roundtable discussions, featuring interviews with experts from non-profit organisations with the goal of tackling tangible solutions to some of society’s most urgent challenges. Smiley Movement’s overarching objective is to continue the legacy of Franklin Loufrani’s ‘Take the Time to Smile’ campaign, showing people how to smile back at the world and inspiring a global culture of indomitable hope, happiness and positivity.
