The new design is the sixth logo in Google’s history, replacing the flattened, bright serif version used since 2013. That edition can be tracked back to 1999 through three incarnations, each slightly more modern-looking than the last.
The new bold image looks more similar to the original logos of 1998-1999 when the Google “G” was green. It certainly isn’t the first time that Google has reworked its image and it says it probably won’t be the last.
Since 1998, colours have changed, font styles have evolved, 3D characters have been flattened down and an exclamation point acquired and lost. The new logo is quite different from its predecessor, using a sans-serif font for the first time that has rounded corners but interesting accents on characters, like the sloping “e.”
The logo was introduced in a blog post explaining the change. Google says the new design better reflects the company of today where its services are continually interacted with across several different platforms and devices.
Google writes: “Once upon a time, Google was one destination that you reached from one device: a desktop PC. These days, people interact with Google products across many different platforms, apps and devices – sometimes all in a single day. You expect Google to help you whenever and wherever you need it, whether it’s on your mobile phone, TV, watch, the dashboard in your car, and yes, even a desktop!”
Google is changing all of its branding images to reflect the updated design. The blue “G” icon to indicate the presence of Google’s services is now multi-coloured. Coloured dots are able to jump and move about to form into the logo in mobile apps such as Google Now.
The microphone icon is also multi-coloured and now noticeably bounces when listening. The theme is clearly quirky, fun accessibility available to the user no matter where they are. Google describes it as the “best of Google” remodeled for the future as well as today, based around the ideas of clutter-free simplicity, colour and friendliness — similar ideas that led to the creation of the Alphabet umbrella company that Google is now a part of.
The new logo can be seen on most search results pages today. It will be rolling out to Google apps and services soon, bringing the new iconography with it. A doodle on the Google homepage shows the old logo being wiped off and the new one drawn in its place. The page has also acquired a slightly taller search box and some completely flat, border-less buttons.