Bringing Google's Brand Evolution to Life
Designing the interaction flow and animation for the interactive logo history experience launched alongside Google's new visual identity.
Company: Google
Role: UX Motion Designer
Launch: 2015
Expertise: Interaction Design • Motion Design • In-Product Branding
Context
In 2015, Google introduced a new visual identity designed to represent the brand across an expanding range of products, platforms, and screen sizes. As part of the global launch, Google Search created a destination where users could explore the history and evolution of the Google logo.
I led the animated component from start to finish, defining the interaction flow and motion and delivering production assets to engineering.
Challenge
The challenge was to transform decades of Google's logo history into a playful, intuitive interactive story connected to the new identity, while meeting the performance and implementation constraints of distribution through Google Search.
Interactive Evolution
I designed the interaction flow and motion as a continuous journey through Google's logo history. Transitions created continuity between eras and built toward the newly introduced identity.
Designing for Scale
Working with engineering, I adapted the animation to a sprite-based rendering approach optimized for Google Search.
I delivered the complete sequence as a single sprite sheet rather than individual animated assets. JavaScript advanced the image frame by frame, preserving the timing and character of the motion while enabling reliable performance across a broad range of devices.
Impact
The experience launched from the Google homepage as the destination for users exploring the new identity.
During launch week, more than 59 million people visited the experience, turning Google's logo history into a widely viewed interactive brand story.