Google allows kids to tweak its logo

The company has started a competition, Doodle 4 Google, where students will be allowed to create a special sketch for Google on the occasion of Children's Day

For the first time in India, Google.com has extended the tradition of tweaking its logo on special days or occasions, to people outside its own design team.

It has initiated a unique contest, 'Doodle 4 Google', where school students will get a chance to create a special sketch on the theme of 'My India' and incorporate the Google logo in it. The contest is on the occasion of Children's Day, celebrated on November 14.

The competition is open to all students in India, in the first to tenth standards.

Doodles or sketches submitted by students will be judged on the basis of artistic merit, creativity and communication of the 'My India' theme. The contest will be judged by a panel of students and faculty members of National Institute of Design (NID) Ahmedabad, along with N Ponnappa and Raghava KK, Bangalore-based cartoonists. Google Webmaster,

Dennis Hwang

, who designs Google logos for special days, will also be part of the panel.

The winning sketch will be displayed as a logo on the Google homepage on Children's Day. The winner will get a laptop and his school will receive a grant of Rs 100,000.

Earlier, the search giant has conducted similar competitions in other parts of the world such as the US, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, China and Israel.

Speaking to afaqs!, Arvind Desikan, head, consumer marketing, Google India, points out, "Students have their own perception about India and the contest will help them to bring out and showcase their artistic talent."

He adds, "The contest is not meant for generating awareness about Google among students. In fact, it is aimed at extending the spirit of Google to the outside world.

Creativity, innovation, and a sense of fun are at the heart of Google's culture and beliefs. Through Doodle 4 Google, we hope to celebrate the immense creative talent and richness of ideas of students across the country."

The search engine company will deploy its teams to approach 10,000 schools across India to inform them about the contest. These teams will provide a brochure about the details of the contest to school authorities.

Apart from the on-ground activation, Google will use online marketing and its online properties to inform students and school authorities about the contest.

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