Google's Nouveau look is Rennie Mackintosh

Published on Saturday 7 June 2008 19:48

MILLIONS of web browsers received an artistic treat yesterday from one of Scotland's most famous artists when they accessed the Google search engine.

To coincide with the 140th anniversary of the birth of Glasgow artist and architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the internet giant installed a special logo on its UK search engine influenced by his Art Nouveau designs.

The logo featured Mackintosh's characteristic roses and leaves. A watercolorist, architect and interior designer, Mackintosh is best known for the Glasgow School of Art building and Hill House.

The logo was placed online for 24 hours and it is estimated that it was seen by more than 20 million people.

In the past Google only changed the design of its iconic logo on major holidays, but more recently the search engine has modified it to coincide with a number of events and campaigns, such as the launch of the first hot air balloon, and Earth Hour.

In May 2006, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's birthday was remembered with a Sherlock Holmes design.

The logo change was only applicable to the UK version of the search engine. Google has introduced a number of UK-specific logo changes for Guy Fawkes Day, a special daffodil version for Wales' St David's Day and a dragon and knight for St George's Day. There has never been one for St Andrew's Day, but Edinburgh Castle was featured in a "Five Wonders of Britain" Google logo in 2006.