Harvey Ross Ball (10 July 1921 – 12 April 2001) is the earliest known designer of the Smiley.
Harvey Ball was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts. During his time as a student at South High School, he became an apprentice to local sign painter, and later attended Worcester Art Museum School, where he studied fine arts.
Mikhail: Hi, Ivan! Tell me please something about yourself, your work, your hobbies, about the weather in Nadim?
Aiwan: Hi. What can I tell about myself? I’m well over thirty, a man of family with a strange hobby - nightly I paint funny faces. I work in one of divisions of Gazprom, I am fire engine driver..
F1CD: Good day! Hundreds of people every day, every hour and even every minute express their emotions with Your smileys. But who is actually hidden beyond the mysterious pseudonym “Aiwan”? Introduce Yourself to us, please, what is Your real name?
Aiwan: I am 34 years old. I have a family, a wife and a son. I have a job which allows me to be engaged in those things that I like. I like my friends and I am interested in the Internet. I finished the 10th grade, served in the army and then followed my studies at the University. If I had to sum up my current state in life, I would say I am a totally happy man.