A Simple Task at a Troubled Office
In 1963, Worcester-based State Mutual Life Assurance faced low employee morale after a merger. They hired freelance artist Harvey Ball to create an image to lift spirits. Ball drew a yellow circle, added two black oval eyes and a curved smile. It took him about 10 minutes. He was paid $45.
A Button That Caught Fire
Originally, the company planned to distribute 100 buttons. But the image proved instantly popular, and demand exploded. By 1971, over 50 million buttons featuring Ball’s design had been sold, far beyond its original purpose of boosting morale at a local insurance firm.
No Copyright, No Regret
Ball never trademarked the design. When he finally consulted patent attorneys, they told him the image had already entered the public domain. Ball said he didn’t mind, believing it had done its job. His son later noted that Ball never chased money, saying he was content with what he had.
From Office Desk to Global Phenomenon
The smiley took on new lives—used in newspapers, merchandise, and even comic books. In 1999, Ball founded the World Smile Foundation and created World Smile Day to encourage kindness. The image he drew for a phone etiquette campaign became one of the most reproduced graphics in history.
In 1963, a Worcester insurance firm asked freelance artist Harvey Ball to boost employee morale after a merger.
In just 10 minutes, he drew a yellow face with two black eyes and a smile.
Paid $45, he unknowingly created one of the most recognizable images in the world…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/MbxTu28cQz
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) May 14, 2025