While most major corporations stick to the same logo for decades, Google has always been known for getting creative with their company’s six letter name. The home screen of the website has been implementing playful iterations of their logo since 1998, when the company’s founders tweaked the logo as a sort of “Out of Office” sign while they went to Burning Man. The general feedback was so positive that they decided to start regularly creating customized logos to commemorate popular holidays around the world.
As the company has grown, so has their creativity with their logo, which is now its own thriving department of the company known as Google Doodles. Run by Dennis Hwang (the intern who created the first customized logo), the department now employs an entire team of illustrators and engineers who have created over 2,000 unique designs. They have branched out from traditional holidays to historical events they feel “reflect Google’s personality and love for innovation.”
While most of the designs come from within their talented staff, Google Doodles also hosts an annual competition for students aged K-12 to design their company’s logo. The rules are pretty simple – the student must create a unique work of art playing off of the 6 letter logo, and must submit the work along with a 50 word statement explaining their work. The artworks are then judged by an eclectic panel of judges from Modern Family’s Julie Bowen to Disney Animator Glen Keane.
Students from all 48 states compete to be named the National Winner, who will receive a $30,000 college scholarship, a $50,000 education grant for his or her school, as well as some brand new Android technology. A National Finalist will win a $5,000 scholarship, and 53 state and territory winners will be chosen from each grade group to win cool tech devices.
I may be too old to enter this contest, but I plan to advise anyone I know with a creative sibling or child of their own… I sure could’ve used 30k less in student loans right about now.
The theme of this year’s competition is “What makes me…me.” Submissions will be accepted through December 7, 2015. Click here for more details.
Like this article? Check out Redbull’s creative brand contest, or other awesome art initiatives around the world.
