Google is constantly spoiling us with its elaborate doodles, pertaining to our favorite holidays, celebrities, and renowned events. A Google Doodle is defined as “…a special, temporary alteration of the logo on Google’s homepages” (Wikipedia). The first Google Doodle was published by Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin to inform users that they would be temporarily out of office. One creative touch blossomed into a plethora of logo enhancements that are currently stored within the Google Doodles archive (Google Doodles). Initially, the logos did not involve any hyperlinks or animations, solely displaying a stagnant image. But in 2010, employees began experimenting with technological advancements to develop the very first motion doodle to celebrate the Halloween season. Currently, participants worldwide are welcome to submit any personal designs to the Google staff to be considered for the respected holiday. Occasionally, a minigame is embedded within the doodle with the hopes of providing a form of entertainment or gaining traction from fellow users.

The immense effort and patience dedicated towards these intricate expressions are frequently overlooked due to Google’s mastery of user empathy. User empathy can be characterized by a team’s collective effort to understand and share its users’ wants and needs. The company specializes in disguising its complex game code through the incorporation of detailed instructions, universal symbols like arrows, and physical demonstrations. Movement, shape, and sound are all factors that contribute to the facilitation of a user’s experience, appealing to their dominant senses of vision and hearing. The artists and coding experts behind this digital art consistently engage in the UX Design Process, which is an 8-step guide for developing the perfect user media.

All Google projects begin with a clear definition of the logo’s theme and purpose. Will it depict a historical figure, celebrate a holiday, or acknowledge an upcoming event? Akshay Patel (11) says, “I enjoyed interacting with the recent Lunar New Year doodle because of its simplicity and thoughtful programming.” The Lunar New Year Doodle featured a rendition of the Google minigame Snake, replacing the classic blue snake with a red version to symbolize the holiday’s emphasis on fortune. The logo itself was entangled within the Chinese zodiac animal of 2025, a snake, surrounded by a bed of water lilies and mandarins. It perfectly encapsulates the essence of Asian culture through a variety of symbolic references and prominent colors. Kelsey Ikemoto (11) appreciates “Google’s effort towards creating an accurate cultural representation of the Lunar New Year tradition.”

Despite the decades of experience that these employees possess, research is a prerequisite for Google Doodle to prevent the distribution of misinformation. The artists are tasked with developing a rough sketch and experimenting with the logo’s layout, color, size, and shape.

Once the design is finalized, coding experts are responsible for the manipulation of its digital features, including moving components, sound features, instruction catalogs, and embedded buttons. The prototype is carefully tested and reviewed amongst each staff department before user feedback is requested from selected volunteers. The testing period is iterated until the Google Doodle team is satisfied with every component within the piece. Then, it’s finally time to launch the doodle on the company’s homepage for all users to view and explore!