The so-called Google Doodles are illustrations that not only make the Google Search website look better, but sometimes they feature fun interactions or just clicking on them provide some relevant information about specific dates. Doodle 4 Google is a contest for students K-12 so they get a chance to see their artwork featured in the Google homepage as well as a scholarship, a Google for Education grant for the student’s school, a trip to the Google Headquarters so they can meet the team behind the Google Doodles, a Chromebook, an Android tablet and a t-shirt with their doodle printed on it. National Finalists and State and Territory Winners will also get a few prizes.
The theme for 2015 was “What makes me… me”, and contestants could use many resources to depict what makes them unique. Of course, the Google logo must be part of the illustration, and the doodles would be chosen based on their artistic merit, creativity and the theme communication. Starting today, February 5th and until February 22, U.S. internet voters can vote for their favorite doodle from the 53 State and Territory Winners, choosing one from each of the five grade groups. There are at least 10 different doodle options to choose from each group and the voting will narrow down the competition to determine the National Finalists, 5 total finalists will be chosen, one for each group. The National Winner will then be chosen by a panel of Google employees and the results will be published on March 28, 2016.
Google has been doing this contest for eight years now, and it is available in many regions around the world throughout the year. The theme for last year’s contest was chosen to know more about what kids are currently passionate about, what dreams do they have and what gets them excited. The doodle will obviously be displayed as a 2D picture, but contestants might use a variety of materials and techniques from colors or crayons to digitally created illustrations, even 3D sculptures or shapes are accepted to create their artwork, but those would have to be photographed or scanned into a 2D form.