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February 12, 2008

Designing Google's Logo

Wired has an article about the design of Google's logo and its iterations. "Ruth Kedar, the graphic designer who developed the now-famous logo, shows the iterations that led to the instantly recognizable primary colors and Catull typeface that define the Google brand. Kedar met Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page through a mutual friend nine years ago at Stanford University, where she was an assistant professor."

In the process, Ruth used a lot of symbols: from a pattern that suggests the infinite to interlocking rings that symbolize the power of search to transgress cultures, from a happy magnifying glass to sheer playfulness. "By taking out the magnifying glass, Kedar opens up the logo to signify that Google can become much more than just a search engine. By playing with the angles and colors of the letters, she tries to make clear that Google isn't a square corporation."

Ruth Kedar explains that she chose the Catull typeface because "Catull borrows elements from traditional writing instruments such as the quill and the chisel with a modern twist. Search, by nature, is an activity that requires we look into the past. Therefore Catull's historical ties seemed appropriate, as did the bridging between the old analog world and the new emerging digital era."

As you can see, the simple and cheerful Google logo hides a lot of interesting ideas and it's still relevant to the company, even if it's no longer just a search engine.

Before adopting a professional logo, Google used a logo created by Sergey Brin in GIMP. "Tinkering one day with a graphics program called GIMP, Sergey created a color rendering of the Google letters with an exclamation point at the end, mimicking Yahoo! He seemed quite proud of the new logo, which was composed of kindergarten-style block letters in primary colors. But it wasn't the look that meant the most to him. He was pleased that he had been able to teach himself how to use GIMP, free software that was tricky to employ," writes David A. Vise in The Google Story.

22 comments:

  1. The first one, at the top right, is beautiful!

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  2. Doing anything with GIMP is quite an accomplishment. lol

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  3. I really like to see two "oo" and "g" and "e", moving on the top to allign with G and l.
    The first one really a good looking one!

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  4. its just plain ugly, there's no Design Part in Google logo what's so ever.

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  5. I think the third one from the top down looks best.

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  6. Current Google logo looks like an amateur job. The bevel effect, lots of colors...but it works:)

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  7. The logo should be look like a professional, there is no much more attraction required in particular case of Google, we all have set Google logo in our soul, new logo, i don't think so required, still one can go with 3rd one in the list you mentioned as it has something like search symbol in smiley.

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  8. Yeah! the first one is more better atleast it will save more energy... :-)

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  9. i love the logo that we have right now. the old ones are good too.

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  10. I think the third one from the top down looks best.

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  11. Google logo: I never think about it ..

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  12. i like zee 3rd one (:

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  13. the google logo today (13th Feb) shows a luger , signifying the Winter Olympics...
    in light of the death of the Georgian luger hours before the opening ceremony,
    would it not have been sensible to use something else in its place?

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  14. just a comedy logo, its must must be change....

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  15. no matter which one is better...?
    only matter what is the reason of google's logo color?
    if anybody knows it....then reply

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  16. These logos are what any rough and unpolished logo looks like in it's infancy stage.

    The current logo is dead set on par with their brand personality, there way of thinking and the user friendly products they create. It may not be the best looking logo in the world, but it is cohesive with there brand values and core identity - and for a brand that is the most important thing to achieve.

    Vaughn Gunnell

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  17. This comment has been removed by the author.

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