The Very First Google Doodles by Ian David Marsden
As a professional artist, illustrator, cartoonist and character designer, one of the highlights of my career so far is certainly that I happen to be the very first Google Doodle artist.

Article about the early days at Google: Wall Street Journal – Google The Beginning
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304911104576444363668512764.html

It was tremendous fun and I was totally delighted when Google contacted me to be their first artist. Back then I was working out of a one bedroom studio in Santa Monica, California and we were trying to keep our little two year old baby in diapers, so the whole magical world of the internet in it’s very first pioneer days was a wonderful and thrilling place to be and I was honored and thrilled that I was able to actively participate with Google and some of the other projects I helped realize back then. Even in those early days it was clear to me (and most other people) that Google was headed for greatness.

The first Illustrations I made for Google, were shown on April Fool’s Day 2000. Google launched the amazing MentalPlex Technology where you could just think of what you were searching for and Google would find it. I created a little character and made some animated GIFs to explain how it worked.

See the instructions here:

http://www.google.com/onceuponatime/mentalplex/MP_illustrations.html

My first ‘Google Doodle’ series was also the very first actual Google Doodle – namely the Alien abduction of the Google logo which happened in May 2000.

• http://www.google.com/doodles/google-aliens-2000-1
• http://www.google.com/doodles/google-aliens-2000-2
• http://www.google.com/doodles/google-aliens-2000-3
• http://www.google.com/doodles/google-aliens-2000-4
• http://www.google.com/doodles/google-aliens-2000-5

My second Google Doodle was Google Doodle II – Founding Father’s BBQ and Fireworks for the 4th of July.

• http://www.google.com/doodles/4th-of-july-2000-1
• http://www.google.com/doodles/4th-of-july-2000-2
• http://www.google.com/doodles/4th-of-july-2000-3
• http://www.google.com/doodles/4th-of-july-2000-4

The third series of Google Doodles I designed were the Olympic Doodles for the Summer Olympics in Sydney - Google Doodles Summer Olympics in Sydney with the little ‘Kangaroodle” I also created for Google and for the event. I have never received more fan mail than I did during the days these olympic google doodles were online. Hundreds, probably thousands of e-mails from all over the world. All of them positive and friendly.

• http://www.google.com/doodles/2000-summer-olympic-games-in-sydney-opening-ceremony
• http://www.google.com/doodles/2000-summer-olympic-games-in-sydney-kayak
• http://www.google.com/doodles/2000-summer-olympic-games-in-sydney-gymnastics
• http://www.google.com/doodles/2000-summer-olympic-games-in-sydney-archery
• http://www.google.com/doodles/2000-summer-olympic-games-in-sydney-track-field
• http://www.google.com/doodles/2000-summer-olympic-games-in-sydney-diving
• http://www.google.com/doodles/2000-summer-olympic-games-in-sydney-cycling
• http://www.google.com/doodles/2000-summer-olympic-games-in-sydney-weightlifting
• http://www.google.com/doodles/2000-summer-olympic-games-in-sydney-soccer
• http://www.google.com/doodles/2000-summer-olympic-games-in-sydney-basketball
• http://www.google.com/doodles/2000-summer-olympic-games-in-sydney-closing-ceremony

(a selection of olympic doodles from the above links)

The last Google Doodle I drew was the Global Happy New Year Doodle 2001 with the two little white bears throwing a party.

• http://www.google.com/doodles/happy-new-year-2001

I hope you enjoyed this little walk with me down my Google Doodle memory lane.

All of the above Google Doodles are © 1999 – 2001 Google.com
Artwork by Ian D. Marsden

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My name is Ian Marsden and I am a professional independent Illustrator, Character Designer, Logo Designer, Flash Animator and Cartoonist.
I am highly experienced in creating custom characters, illustrations, comic strips, mascots and animated video and flash elements for use on websites or YouTube. My full resume and a partial client list can be viewed by clicking on this link.

References are available upon request. I am a reliable, experienced professional and deadlines are always met. Please contact me directly to discuss your art, design or illustration needs.

I look forward to hearing from you. [email protected]