Lego gets Googled
By Staff -- Playthings, 1/28/2008 7:29:00 AM
BILLUND, Demark—Lego’s iconic brick turns 50 today and search engine Google is paying homage with a Lego-inspired ‘doodle’—a stylized version of the Google logo—appearing on its homepage.
According to the company, Google embraced the idea of a Lego ‘doodle’ because of “the special role Lego building has played in Google’s 10-year history.”
Google co-founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, used Lego bricks as the external casing for ten 4-GigaByte hard disks when they were busy developing the Google search engine. The original server casing still exists and is on display as part of an exhibition chronicling 80 years of computing machines at Stanford University. Additionally, Lego bricks can be found scattered around Google’s many offices to provide creative inspiration, and have reportedly been used in Google’s college graduate recruiting exercises to test potential candidate’s creative horsepower.
“We are honored to have the iconic Lego brick celebrated in this way by Google, because we know the ‘Doodle’ is reserved for only the most special of themes,” says Jørgen vig Knudstorp, CEO of Lego Group. “Mr. Brin and Mr. Page are prime examples of who we often refer to as ‘builders of tomorrow’—people who embrace the power of creative exploration and curiosity that leads to lifelong innovation and creativity. The Lego brick…is a catalyst for that development, and we’re proud that it has also inspired the innovation that is the heart and soul of Google.”
Lego will celebrate its building brick through several programs and promotions, including two products commemorating the anniversary: an open-ended Lego set with a classic village theme and that includes a gold 2x4 Lego (available in August); and a one-of-a-kind Town Plan, featuring city hall, movie theater, gas station, car wash, two automobiles and eight mini figures that also includes a letter from Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, the company’s owner. That set is currently available online at www.Legoshop.com.
