The country’s top doodles are here! The work of the 50 State Winners of the Doodle 4 Google 2012 contest have arrived from across the United States and landed in the halls of The New York Public Library. How did these award-winning creations get here? Through imagination!
This year, Google challenged students in grades K–12 to create their own Google doodle around the theme “If I could travel in time, I’d visit...” The contest encouraged students to harness their curiousity and imagine places past, present, or future, and create accompanying artist statements to help amplify their visions. Submitted doodles — numbering in the tens of thousands — were judged on three criteria: 1) artistic merit; 2) creativity; and 3) thematic communication, such as how well each theme was expressed in the artwork and supporting essay. Google’s own doodlers and guest judges — including Katy Perry and Jordin Sparks — selected the best doodles from each of the 50 states. Then, the U.S. public voted for its top favorites from the 50 State Winners, determining four National Finalists and the National Winner of Doodle 4 Google for 2012. The National Winner’s artwork was featured on Google’s homepage for a full 24 hours, and will also appear on Crayola's Limited Edition 64 Crayon Box!
Doodle 4 Google is one of several efforts by Google that foster and celebrate the creativity of young people.
