Styling Google
Apparently, style guides can exist more than in just paper or digital form. Meet Marissa Mayer, Google's in house styler, who ensures that every piece of information Google puts its name on is consistent with its brand identity and message. Whether it's "avoiding first- and second-person pronouns" because it sounds like Google is "picking words for [its users] or avoiding "gray-on-gray text" or italics because they are hard to read on screen, Ms. Mayer stands guard as the reinforcer of Google's ubiquitous search engine and related internet tools.
While Google is known to modify its wordmark according to holidays or special events– today it is celebrating Dr. Suess's (Theodore Seuss Geisel) 105th birthday– it is otherwise stringent in its use of language, color, and style to keep its brand identity consistent and clear. Ms. Mayer plays an important role in this brand consistency, even if its means being looked upon as a "zealous copy editor or meticulous art teacher." While some question her plans for the future (is she leaving Google?), she is clear on one thing: "she and a team of designers are creating a style guide so that she can quit repeating herself." Get the point?