Google Workspace
Unifying Google Workspace for the Future of Work
Google was making big moves to build products that enable the future of work. They’re creating a single, deeply integrated, and connected experience between their communication and collaboration brands. The work would transform how teams of all sizes get things done – especially in a hybrid work world.
We were chosen to help redesign the product icons into a more unified set, to help users understand the deeper integrations.
With 3 billion active users and well-known brands like Gmail, Calendar, Docs and Meet, we needed to find a solution that both made sense of the new offer and retained the individual product equity and relationship to Google.
An integrated design language
We worked across Google to tell the story of Google Workspace's strategy visually to both enterprises and consumers alike.
We used design exploration to navigate brand and product architecture scenarios, determining the right relationship between the individual products and to Google Masterbrand. This let us move at pace while taking into account the needs of many stakeholders.
Backed by rigorous user testing and feedback, we created a premium design language to elevate this diverse set of offerings into one suite fit for large enterprises, whilst retaining the accessibility of Google products.
We landed on a new territory for Google icon design. Based on ‘transparent layers’ that overlap and extend from one app to the next, signaling the deeply integrated user experience, and people collaborating all over the world.
The white space in all the flagship icons (Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Meet, Editors) is a space for communication, collaboration, and creativity – as promised by the Google Workspace name.
For billions of people worldwide
Google Workspace launched in October 2020 for enterprises and was rolled out the following year for consumers, helping billions of people around the world work in a smarter and more seamless way from anywhere, on any device.
We helped create an iconography system that not only is helpful for the user, but signals the shift within the product from a set of different and competing brands to one unified, premium offer.
“Wolff Olins was an outstanding partner throughout the process to redesign Google Workspace. They have breathed new life into a complex set of brands used by billions of people daily.”
Margaret Cyphers
Director, User Experience, Google
