I always noticed the fun Google designs for (mostly) significant holidays, but sometimes had to click on the “Google” to read about what the design was commemorating. Recently, Google released their complete doodle database to the public. I never knew this existed before, but apparently it was very limited. Now, you can browse all the doodles. When I stumbled upon this website, I learned that Google celebrates worldwide holidays and the designs actually change in each country.
The first Google designs were created in 1998, with a commemoration of Burning Man festival on August 30. I don’t remember Google in 1998, but even with the same color scheme, the logo looks very different.
In 1999, Google celebrated Halloween and Thanksgiving in the U.S. and had a snowman in the first “o” for a worldwide season’s greetings.
2000 marked the first year that Google produced significantly more designs, beginning with “Happy New Year.” Since the creation of Google doodles, they have since spread internationally.
Here are some fun international designs:
And here's a YouTube video montage with some of the cooler ones:
Does anyone else think its funny that the first google artwork was for Burning Man? Internationally renown as a haven for those looking to break free from the reigns of society and intake copious amounts of drugs, I'm a bit suprised google would go to such lengths to support it. I wonder if it a stoned renegade Google programmer was behind this...
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What's funny is that there really is so much internet user interest in these themed Google logos. Google is such a big part of our modern day culture and the Google followership is undoubtedly enormous with all of their popular applications and programs (Gmail, Google Maps, Google Earth, Google Books, YouTube, and on and on). I sort of see this archive of themed logos like a collector's piece of the Google that's a part of pop culture... like old school drawings of Mikey Mouse.
ReplyDeleteWhat's interesting to me is that Google has done such a good job establishing themselves as the default search source, with imbedded toolbars in Safari and Firefox, I don't ever go to the google.com page. But the doodles (and the accompanying email from my mother, with the subject "new doodle!!!") gets me there, if just for a brief visit to look at it.
ReplyDeleteAh Google Doodles. Scott was right.
ReplyDelete" I sort of see this archive of themed logos like a collector's piece of the Google that's a part of pop culture... like old school drawings of Mikey Mouse." Now if only there was a coffee table book.
Curious: Does Google do this for any reason other than for fun? It's really clever and it obviously catches our attention, but I wonder if it's also a marketing device? It's interesting, because Yahoo! has started to do this, too. It'll be telling if Bing also starts illustrating its logo.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it would be cool if Google let various freelance arists illustrate the logo in exchange for exposure.