August 2009
8 posts
Korean Independence Day
Ahhh, a chance to celebrate what Korea is most famous for. The Pepsi logo and New York City’s Washington Arch.
The thing that surprised us most is that Google’s top logo artist, Dennis Hwang, is Korean himself. At first we thought something may have been lost in translation with this one, until it dawned on us that this logo is commentary on how Google’s own...
Hans Christian Ørsted's Birthday
Insider sources tell me Google has been saving this logo for years, but they’ve finally accepted the fact that “Make a Pipe Bomb out of Household Objects Day” is never going to become a national holiday.
While we don’t necessarily agree with the message of this one, it’s hard to deny the artistry behind it. This is the fourth solid logo we’ve seen this month,...
Perseid Meteor Shower
Today’s logo is, in a word, stellar. And I would say “no pun intended” but there’s no way for me to pretend that pun wasn’t intended.
Apart from the overt sexuality of all those giant sperms falling to Earth (I’m especially digging the one impregnating the O), this Google logo gives us what we like here at Happy Googleday: more logo, less Google....
Google Logos in the Media
Finally getting some of the respect they deserve, Google Logos are popping up everywhere these days, including a recent prime time episode of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire.
This particular contestant had to use two lifelines to get the correct answer, which referenced this phenomenal Google logo:
Readers: if you know this man, or even if you just happen to see him on the street somewhere,...
Singapore National Day/Bolivian Independence Day
We have already seen tons of fireworks Google logos, and these two back-to-back additions don’t really add much to the exploding logo canon. Then again, there’s only so much you can do with weak-ass holidays Singapore National Day and Bolivian Independence Day. It is our hope that when Google inevitably takes over the world, all of these vaguely similar national celebrations be...
Ilya Repin's Birthday
I have but one word:
WHAT.
Who was Ilya Repin? Was he the Aquaman of Eastern Europe? Was he the king of the mermaids? Is he the guy holding a bubble machine where the ‘g’ should be? I won’t kill this beauty by overanalyzing it. Russia, Ukraine and Belarus: you guys are getting something special when you use the world’s finest search engine today.
Today’s Rating:...
Swiss National Day
After the mess that was July, Google is picking up the pieces and started this month off right.
We talked about cop outs in the last post, and it appears Google took notice. We’ll think of today’s logo as a “cop out 2.0.” A background, some nuanced texture and lighting give this logo the edge over last month’s first logo, the shameful Canada Day.
Props, Google....
The Roundup: July 2009
The roundup is where we present all of the Google Logos we didn’t have a chance to review individually for each month.
July 2009 saw a burst in what we refer to as “cop outs”— Google Logos in which only one or two letters of the logo are changed:
These logos represent the pinnacle of human laziness. Google design corps, I understand you’re busy...
July 2009
7 posts
Comic-Con 2009
As you can see, this one’s for the ladies.
No, but seriously, it’s good. It’s damn good. As I always say, a solid google logo requires three things: muscular dudes, scantily clad babes, and a curvy penis used to form the letter ‘e’.
Of course, this logo is doing nothing if not perpetuating false stereotypes about comics. The world of comics has a lot more to...
40th Anniversary of the Moon Landing
As you’ve probably heard, today marks the 40th anniversary of “Moon Landing,” a government propaganda piece directed by M. Night Shyamalan. This is an anniversary that’s been hyped by everyone from the New York Times to the New York Times Sunday Edition, so today’s Google Logo release should no surprise to anyone familiar with Google’s eclectic brand of holiday...
Birthday of Pablo Neruda
Today’s Google Logo was only aired in selected South American countries, which is fine because no one in North America has any idea who Pablo Neruda was. (It turns out he was from, you guessed it, South America. Sensing a little bias here?)
Pablo Neruda was known for being a poet and politician— NOT a man who sat on the beach all day looking at the moon and boats. And I don’t...
Birthday of Nikola Tesla
Finally, Google Logos embrace the one demographic they’ve been holding out on: metal heads. That’s right, Google is celebrating the birth of the lead singer of the 1980s hair metal supergroup Tesla. Specifically, there’s no question that this Google Logo is a subtle allusion to “Day of The Eagle,” a hidden gem nestled midway through their sixth album, Real to Reel....
Anniversary of the Publication of Pinocchio
Unless you happened to be Googling from Italy today, you weren’t subjected to this mockery of the good Google name. This logo, commemorating the anniversary of one of the worst books ever, was an Italian exclusive, and as a result it reeks of European decadence.
Where to begin with my deconstruction of this logo? For starters, the washed-out color palette, while highly symbolic of the...
Anniversary of the 'Miracle of Berne'
I’m sure many of you were expecting Happy Googleday to examine today’s American 4th of July Google Logo, but clearly enough has been said on that subject by the more ‘mainstream’ Google Logo critics.
Instead, I want to take a look at this little gem, brought to us by the Gügle team over in Germany. I don’t know what the ‘Miracle of Berne’ is, and in...
First day of Summer (Israel)
Today’s first day of summer Google Logo comes to us fresh from Israel. Look familiar to you non-Israelis? It should. Here’s the First Day of Summer Logo Google put up in North America a full 10 days ago:
I have a number of theories to explain this bizarre happenstance:
Google is getting lazy. Using the same logos in different countries, on different days? Loyal Googlites like...
June 2009
4 posts
The Roundup: June 2009
Here’s a look at some of the logos Happy Googleday chose not to feature for the month of June 2009.
150th Anniversary of Yokoma Port Opening: A beautifully rendered image, which we simply chose not to review out of an insatiable hatred for the Japanese. Rating: GOOGL (out of a possible GOOGLE).
Denmark’s National Day/Sweden’s National Day: A classic example of...
A Googleday Showdown!
Today is June 21st. What does that mean to you? More importantly, what does it mean to Google? Depending on where you live, you’ll have two distinct answers. It’s no coincidence that these two logos are going head-to-head today: they represent the two major schools of thought behind Google logos.
In select Northern Hemisphere countries, Google is airing a Father’s day themed...
Birthday of Igor Stravinsky
Today’s Google logo is a visual treat. Though I’m not really sure how it relates to Igor Stravinsky, the hunchbacked labratory assistant who gained international fame for his work with Frankenstein and Dracula. Perhaps he had a secret poetic side we never knew about? This logo leaves me with more questions than answers, which is exactly how I like them. It’s not a classic, but...
25th Anniversary of Tetris
This week marked the launch of Bing!, the search engine that seemed to be Microsoft’s way of saying “your move, Google.” This logo was Google’s response. Checkmate.
Google logos like this are the reason people like us get into the Logo Analysis field. Simply put, it’s a brilliant concept with a flawless execution. The highlighting and shadowing of the individual...