Dennis Hwang

Google doodles, the drawings that are designed on, around and through the Google logo on our home page, have long been part of Google's history. As a Google intern in 2000, Google Webmaster Dennis Hwang began celebrating and marking worldwide events and holidays with doodles. Since then, the work of the doodle team has been seen by millions and reached cult status, with fans waiting with bated breath to see the next creation on the Google homepage. We spoke to Dennis about doodles and how he got a job that combined his two passions: technology and art.

Most people have to choose only one of their interests to pursue. How did you get such a cool job that meshes computers and art?

"I had an internship with Google in college. I was given the task of helping with websites creation, and I soon became an assistant webmaster. Before I joined Google, the founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin were already thinking about holiday logos…and when I joined, they knew I was studying art and suggested I should give it a shot. While being Google Webmaster is my main job, I've been doing doodles since then as a part-time project."

Is the doodle team constantly trying to keep up with current events and holidays?

"How far we work in advance depends. Sometimes, we react really quickly to current events. Some logos are created in less than 24 hours, such as the Mars Rover landing doodle. For different countries across the globe, if there's a special day and we think it's in line with the Google brand, we want to commemorate it."

Do you get suggestions from Google users?

"We get quite a lot of suggestions from users. We're really open to user feedback and having ideas sent to us because our users are really creative. For example, a French astronomer had emailed us about the Venus Transit, in which Venus casts a shadow on the sun every 122 years. During the transit, you'll see a black dot moves across the sun, so here is the logo we did."

How do you decide on the design of the drawings?

"First, we do a lot of brainstorming, search for images on Google, and absorb all the research. Then we apply a design that interacts with shape of the letters. I find that a bit more interesting."

Do you have favorite doodles?

"I have several personal favorites. Usually, artists' birthdays are the ones I spend the most effort on, like Magritte's birthday."

How difficult is it to reinvent recurring holidays?

"It's definitely a challenge, but it's one we look forward to. We're constantly looking for ways to be innovative with fresh ideas every year. There's only so many ways to draw a turkey or a pumpkin!"

Dennis' Top Ten Tips

1. Make sure your design complements the shape of the letters in the Google logo, but don't let that restrict your creativity.

2. Experiment with different media to see which one works best for your design (you can even create your doodle on your PC).

3. Don't over-complicate your design – simpler images often have the most impact.

4. Remember that your design could end up on the Google homepage, so imagine how it will look on screen.

5. Remember to use color well and think about how it interacts with a white background.

6. Avoid commercial or copyrighted images.

7. Think outside the box – try to create a doodle that's different from your classmates and hasn't been done before.

8. Feel free to use the space behind and in front of the Google letters, but try to maintain your design's overall balance.

9. Have fun! "Doodle 4 Google" is all about creativity and enjoying designing fun things. Think about how you want to change the world.

Sample Doodles

To help spark your imagination, we've put together a few favorite doodles created by Google Webmaster Dennis Hwang, whose designs celebrate worldwide events and holidays by incorporating images into and around the Google logo. We hope these designs will help you create your own doodle, but remember: creativity is key. Your doodle should be as unique as you are.