Google Signals First Day of Spring With Marimekko Doodles

Google is celebrating the change of seasons around the globe today with Marimekko designed First Day of Spring and Fall doodles.

Today, March 20, 2012, the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere marks the arrival of spring, while in the Southern Hemisphere, the equinox welcomes fall. 2012 marks a year, when Marimekko’s hometown of Helsinki, Finland, sits at the forefront of the worldwide design discussion. The logos are the first international Google doodles that are created by a Finnish designer.

“We are thrilled about this creative collaboration that got started when Google Vice President Marissa Mayer visited our textile printing factory in Helsinki,” Mika Ihamuotila, president and CEO of Marimekko, said in a statement. “Marimekko design is all about understanding the beauty of life just as we encounter it every day€”celebrating everyday moments and the special characteristics and nuances of the different seasons. Thus, with the First Day of Spring and Fall doodles, we want to inspire people to free their own creativity and have fun with it€”every day and each season.”

The playful Marimekko doodles form the Google logo with an interplay of elements of iconic Marimekko printed textiles by eight renowned designers: Maija Isola, Kristina Isola, Erja Hirvi, Maija Louekari, Aino-Maija Metsola, Teresa Moorhouse, Jenni Tuominen and Katsuji Wakisaka.

Google has a long tradition of using different versions of its logo; the first doodle was published in 1998. Since 2000, the tradition has been ongoing. More than 1,000 doodles have been published around the world so far.

More information about the history of Google doodles and the team designing them, as well as pictures of doodles made can be found at www.google.com/doodles/about.

Marimekko is a Finnish textile and clothing design company known for its original prints and colors. The company designs and manufactures high-quality interior decoration items ranging from furnishing fabrics to tableware as well as clothing, bags and other accessories.