google – Norebbo

3d renderings of the new Google logo

0 September 3, 2015 Standard

I’m not sure how I missed it, but Google updated their logo earlier this week and produced a really good set of design guidelines for it. All I can say to that is: FINALLY! Their previous logo looked like something that was created in Microsoft Word way back in 1997, two hours or so right before a big meeting. It was in dire need of a refresh, especially considering how much emphasis this company has been putting on visual design over the past few years.

The new Google logo in a chrome and glass finish

I’ve already produced a full set of 3d renderings featuring the old Google logo, and back then it was really difficult to come up with a collection of images that I was happy with. The old logo was really hard to work with – mostly because it didn’t look sophisticated enough IMHO – and I was never really happy with that set. But this new logo is much better! It’s based on simple geometric shapes that look very balanced when spelling out the “Google” title, and the added benefit to this simplicity is how easy it is to animate. These animations and transitions are a core part of the current Google design language, and I like what they came up with very much. Also, I didn’t realize it until I started building the 3d model, but the circular shapes are not exactly symmetrical – this is a truly custom font that took a bit of work to replicate on my own. I’m not sure I would have even noticed that if I hadn’t created these renderings!

Large magnifying glass hovering over top of a chrome Google logo

Anyway, a long time client of mine needed a few quick 3d illustrations of the new logo for a presentation he was working on and these three are what I came up with. The primary focus of these illustrations was to emphasize “search” and “settings” topics, so it wasn’t really important to render the logo exactly as it was designed. As a matter of fact, it was more important for the objects themselves (tools and magnifying glass) to be more prominent than the logo so that’s why I didn’t use color. Yes, I realize that I broke nearly every guideline in their design documentation, but these are just conceptual images anyway so it’s not that big of a deal. I just hope the Google Brand Police don’t come knocking on my door…

On a side note, flat design is all the rage these days so it’s been interesting and fun to take flat logos such as this and translate them into 3d. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t – but it’s the challenge that I enjoy so much.

3d Google Plus logo renderings

0 October 27, 2014 Standard

About 6 weeks ago reader Unicorn left a comment in the post about my LinkedIn logo 3d illustrations, curious to know if I had any Google Plus illustrations that were similar. I didn’t at the time, but I thought it would be a really quick and easy thing to do. Always willing to accept a challenge (assuming I have the time), I decided to start an all-new full batch of renderings featuring the updated Google Plus logo. The previous set that I created is long out of date, so I figured that this would be a good opportunity for a refresh.

Unfortunately, the hectic nature of daily life got in the way nearly as soon as I started. I was only able to create two illustrations before things got really busy again, and the truth is that so much time has passed that I don’t really have any desire to finish the set. I’ve got way too many other things I’d rather be working on!

3d rendering of floating bubbles with red Google Plus logos inside over a red background

Anyway, the Google + logo hasn’t changed much from my first set – color treatment is the main difference. Where it used to be mostly black with blocks of bright color used as accents, the official mark is simply red and white now. That ties in a lot better to their flat design language, and it should work just as well with their new Material design language which is due to be launched within weeks. Perhaps there’s a new Google + logo coming as well? Possibly.

On a side note, these are the first 3d renderings I’ve created in the new version of FormZ. Although my time with v8.0 has been limited thus far, I do have to say that I like it quite a bit. Looking forward to playing with it some more.

Google Maps logo illustrations

2 Comments May 23, 2013 Standard

A lot of you seemed to like my Facebook app icon illustration set that I posted a few weeks ago, so I thought it would be fun to continue the theme of the series with the Google Maps logo. I had been planning on doing some sort of stock illustration series focused on Google maps for a long time anyway, so I thought this would be a good way to get started. The only problem with doing 3d renderings of popular app icons is that they tend to be redesigned often, so I expect this series to be semi-short lived. But depending how popular these become, I may consider keeping them updated with the latest Google Maps visual identity whenever their design team gives it a refresh.

Just like that Facebook app icon series that I mentioned above, this set of Google Maps app icons features many of the same objects and themes. Each app icon is shown in two halves (as if it had been taken apart), showing the interior of the icon as an injection-molded piece of plastic (or stamped metal) with a conceptual object placed inside. The funny thing is that I thought that I had a bunch of really good ideas for this image collection before I started, but the ideas weren’t flowing as freely once I sat down and got started. Hey – it happens from time to time. 🙂 Because of this, you should probably keep an eye on this collection in my online store because I have a feeling that I’ll be adding to the series as time goes on and the ideas pop into my head. I know those ideas are in there…I just need to get them out!

Anyway, I happen to like the Google Maps logo quite a bit. I’m a huge fan of the “flat” design trend that is all the rage at the moment, and I personally feel that Google does the best job with this. Unlike Microsoft and their Windows 8 *cough* Metro *cough* design language, Google takes just a step further with slight gradients and subtle textures. Really classy stuff, IMHO.

A Google Maps app icon with a radar screen inside

Google Maps app icon with the Android logo inside

Google Maps stats and data

Pinning with Google Maps

Google Maps security and privacy

Google Maps configuration and settings

Google Maps sound

Google Maps target

3d Google logo renderings

0 May 10, 2013 Standard

I think I can chalk this set of Google logo illustrations up as something that didn’t really turn out as I had expected. Long story short, I found this logo really difficult to integrate well into a 3d space and I don’t think I really captured the original spirit of what I had set out to do. I’m not going to go as far as to call this set of illustrations a total failure, but to say that I’m glad to be finished with this set is an understatement.

I think the core of the problem was that I don’t even like the Google logo to begin with. The full-color version of it is cheap and amateurish looking for a company of this size, which is the same sort of issue I discussed when I posted my Verizon 3d logo set last year. Seriously, why do big companies such as this feel the need to hold on to the logos they started with as a small startup? The cheap looking bevel and drop shadow of this logo just screams of something that a non-designer created in Photoshop in way back in 1997 during last-minute desperate attempt to create a logo for a big presentation the next morning. I don’t necessarily mind the font – as a matter of fact, it’s unique and stylish – but the bevel and drop shadow has to go!

I tried really hard to work with the logo without altering it. I really did. But the designer in me couldn’t leave it alone, and I have got to say that I felt much better about the direction of this set of illustrations once I applied my own artistic license to it. You won’t find any cheap-looking bevels in my illustrations!

Most of these illustrations focus on “search” themes, but there are a few other concepts thrown into the mix for good measure.

A 3d Google logo integrated into a world map background

A metallic gray google logo inside of a lifesaver

Google search engine illustration

Google internet search

Google developer tools illustration

Google ideas illustration

Six free Google+ logo renderings

0 September 14, 2011 Standard

Have you started using Google+ yet? Me either. As a matter of fact, I don’t even have a Facebook account! But even for a non-social media guy such as myself, one thing is definitely obvious: Google + is quickly rising as a serious contender in the social networking arena. With that in mind, I present to you six 3d renderings featuring the Google+ logo. I’ve taken a few artistic liberties with these illustrations, which I guess is always kind of scary when dealing with a powerhouse such as the big G – do you think they’ll mind that I’ve done a few little things to their brand (like adding transparency and a frame)? If they promise to spare me heavy fines and jail time, I will promise to use their search engine more. Heck, I may even sign up for a Google+ account…

Hare are more details about each of these six royalty-free renderings:

Large chrome chains lying over top of a Google+ logo
A transparent Google+ logo standing upright in front of a see-through globe
A transparent Google+ logo with a chrome frame wearing a pair of headphones over a green reflective surface
A large brass key lying in front of an upright Google+ logo
Two large gears lying over top of a Google+ logo
A silver microphone standing in front of a framed Google+ logo