Did you rely more on syllables, words, ideas, or a combination of all of them?
I relied primarily on ideas and visual symbols, rather than syllables or words. Instead of encoding the title linguistically, I focused on narrative elements that carry recognizable meaning. Because it is hard to translate abstract concepts into emojis, the limitation unconsciously forced me to think in a certain way and focus more on visual symbols. This experience connects directly to Kress’s claim that different modes operate through different organizing principles. He explains that speech and writing follow a “temporal and sequential logic,” while image operates through a “spatial and simultaneous logic.” When I removed language, I could no longer rely on linear explanation or causal sequencing. I had to arrange meaning spatially. Instead of thinking in vocabulary, I had to think in terms of objects and actions, which made me feel constrained.
Did you start with the title? Why? Why not?
I did not start with the title. Since the title is a proper name, it is difficult to represent directly in emoji form without relying on phonetics. Instead, I began with the setting and protagonist because those are visually distinctive. Once the island, ocean, and young girl were established, the rest of the plot unfolded more naturally.
Did you choose the work based on how easy it would be to visualize?
Yes. I originally considered using a more academically focused book, but abstract vocabulary and theoretical concepts are much harder to represent through emojis. Emojis work best with concrete imagery and action. Because this movie is visually rich and family-friendly (I had just watched it with my daughter), it provides symbols that translate well into visual which makes the process clearer and more effective.
To be honest, I struggled a little when translating words into emojis. I realized that our ways of thinking have been shaped literally by language. I naturally think in structured sentences, causal relations, and narrative order. Removing words made me feel disoriented.