Isn’t it about time that something was done about the Google logo? My apologies to Ruth Kedar, but I think it’s a shocking piece of design. Ruth may have won several design awards and worked as a consultant art professor but that doesn’t mean that everything she produces is a work of art.
Google is one of the largest and most powerful companies in the world and yet the logo looks like it was created by a 10 year old. It’s not just the primary colour palette which offends me, however it is slightly improved when reversed out, such as in iGoogle. But for me it will take more than well designed backgrounds (or poorly as the case may be) to make the Google logo worthy of any awards.
Of course it’s recognisable around the world but I doubt very much that Google’s success has anything to do with the design of it’s logo. I know many of us are subjected to looking at this logo everyday, so please Google, consider a re-design, rather than erasing us from your search engine for writing this article!
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7 responses so far ↓
1 InvisAble Drummer // May 27, 2008 at 18:59
I happen to believe that Google’s logo is one of the most regonised logos in the world and most clever. It has been placed in many films, etc, and due to its simplicity along side the cleanliness of Google’s webpages, makes search easy and non pretensious. Too many websites over design. Remember who your audience is. You cannot be biased for search engine design and it must be able to be translated internationally. Google wants to be used. Over complicate it and it will put people off. iGoogle is there for people who want a personalised page. Google also do some pretty cool stuff with their logo on things like St. PAtricks day, Valentines day. Google is practically an institution and leaders in their field. Dont mess with what has been proven to work.
2 Ric // May 28, 2008 at 8:32
Whilst I agree that the site is clean, simple and pure that does not mean the logo is well designed - it means the site is well designed in a functional, practical manner for it’s purpose. Yes, it’s highly recognised, but that’s because Google is synonymous with searching the internet - not because the logo is well designed. Is the logo well designed because it’s highly recognised? I don’t think so as the only reason people do recognise it is because Google is so popular as a search engine.
Whilst I personally like the idea of google changing the logo on specific dates as it reflects the idea of a search engine I don’t think all of them are that well executed.
I think Google is general could do with improving their design. The technology is great but often it’s not matched by the design, iGoogle is a good example, it’s horrible to look at, there are features I’d like to use but I keep them turned off as I don’t find the visual design user friendly - it’s all too bright and fighting for attention.
3 InvisAble Drummer // May 28, 2008 at 9:11
I just left an epic response but wordpress decided that it was either terrible or too good to be shown, I got an error page and it the erased all my copy.
So i wont go into to great detail again, but what i will recap is, I would like to see Google change some elements, I would like google to KEEP its logo, i dont like the design of iGoogle, but i would rather google spent its time on it algorithms and optimisation of its services.
I would like to see other peoples ideas of how Google should look, if you think it sounds like challenge, it is …
4 ja // Jun 3, 2008 at 18:54
Ditching the bevel/emboss and the dropshadow would improve it 2000% … then there’s those ugly serifs.
5 Ric // Jun 9, 2008 at 10:03
You may have noticed that Google have updated their favicon too: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/one-fish-two-fish-red-fish-blue-fish.html
6 InvisAble Drummer // Jun 9, 2008 at 16:26
I hate the new favicon, it looks like i am on a crap shopping directory site, bring back the big G.
Yeah, drop the bevel, the shadow is ok though.
Surpised they have not done the relflection design web 2.0 style - (apple, itunes, mac ect)
7 InvisAble Drummer // Jun 18, 2008 at 15:08
Update: I am now used to the new favicon, and no longer reminds me of a shopping site.
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