Google honored as 2018 AIGA Corporate Leader for raising the bar of design excellence

NEW YORK—AIGA, the professional association for design, recognizes Google as an exemplary company modeling design's potential to delight users, inspire visionary products and services, fuel innovation, and improve our world. Google will receive the AIGA Corporate Leadership Award at the AIGA Awards Gala on April 20, 2018 in New York City.

“Google’s legacy is evident, from smaller moments to the creation of their Material Design language. They’ve even tapped into design's potential to give back and advance education, job opportunities, nonprofits, and our communities. By sharing these accomplishments, we are highlighting what a deep and diverse organization-wide commitment to design can look like,” said Julie Anixter, executive director of AIGA.

A glimpse into the design process behind the Google Pixel, 2016

A moment in the hardware design process shows how Google designers aim to make objects that are emotionally and physically appealing, as with the rounded corners and soft fabrics of the Daydream View, 2016

Google started as a search engine, transforming the topography of the internet by making it easy for people to discover new things. Google homepage, 2018

Doodles reflect Google’s culture and celebrate the innovation and artistry of everyday experience. “Celebrating Dolores del Rio” by Sophie Diao, August 3, 2017

A limited edition printed takeaway, created for the launch of Material Design at Google I/O 2014. Image courtesy of Manual

A glimpse into the design process behind the Google Pixel, 2016

A moment in the hardware design process shows how Google designers aim to make objects that are emotionally and physically appealing, as with the rounded corners and soft fabrics of the Daydream View, 2016

Google started as a search engine, transforming the topography of the internet by making it easy for people to discover new things. Google homepage, 2018

Doodles reflect Google’s culture and celebrate the innovation and artistry of everyday experience. “Celebrating Dolores del Rio” by Sophie Diao, August 3, 2017

A limited edition printed takeaway, created for the launch of Material Design at Google I/O 2014. Image courtesy of Manual

We believe Google is a company that’s supporting the future of design and technology through its people, its work, and its commitments. Google models design that delights and scales across the enterprise, and exemplifies the value of design through diverse and personal user experiences, products, services, and programs that create opportunity for everyone.

Google’s particular passion and commitment to design is evident in: their history of design innovation, which began with the design of the original Google site and continues through their deeply varied expressions of design in products, services, and resources; their daily Google Doodles, sprint methodologies, and the Material design system; participation and sponsorship of numerous conferences, including their own conference about design and technology, the genesis of SPAN, now in its fifth year. AIGA also worked with Google to conceive and produce an expansive Design Census that touches on diversity, ethnicity, education level, geographic location, and sources of satisfaction among designers to map an accurate landscape of the design profession as it exists today.

Our Corporate Leadership Award also recognizes Google’s philanthropic support for designers, educators, students, and communities. Learn more about their approach to design in Google’s feature essay, published in conjunction with this announcement.

In AIGA’s 103-year history, we have recognized 31 perceptive, forward-thinking organizations with the Corporate Leadership Award. The recipients have spanned countless industries—from media to education to technology—but are united by the respect for the lives they touch and a rare commitment to consistency and quality. We are thrilled to honor Google as the 32nd recipient of the award for all the ways they’ve bettered our world, and all the ways we hope they will continue to positively shape the future.