In the pre-Google era, I worked for a dot-com startup that was a community for senior citizens to get together and presumably chat about their grandchildren or whatever. I suggested that we do fun things with the logo like different permutations of the logo on different parts of the site, or changing the logo out for holidays or whatever.
The CEO just berated the hell out of me. He said that was the worst idea he had ever heard, and that any serious and successful company NEVER EVER EVER changes how their brand looks and is presented and gave me all sorts of examples of how all "real" companies have elaborate and detailed documents explaining the only acceptable way to display the company's name and/or logo in every possible scenario.
So every time Google (or anyone else) does this sort of thing, I feel a small rush of vindication.
The CEO just berated the hell out of me. He said that was the worst idea he had ever heard, and that any serious and successful company NEVER EVER EVER changes how their brand looks and is presented and gave me all sorts of examples of how all "real" companies have elaborate and detailed documents explaining the only acceptable way to display the company's name and/or logo in every possible scenario.
So every time Google (or anyone else) does this sort of thing, I feel a small rush of vindication.