Celebs make iGoogle their digital canvas
Announcement
SYDNEY, 30 April 2008 – Interested in adding an artistic touch to your internet experience? Google today launched a set of new online themes, created by a variety of well known Australian artists, designers, actors, and other personalities on iGoogle™, Google’s personalised homepage.
Australian icons, including designer Akira Isogawa, artist Rolf Harris, singer/songwriter Missy Higgins, photographer Anne Geddes, artist Ken Done, Mambo artist and musician Reg Mombassa, singer John Butler and musical sensation The Wiggles are among figures from around the globe who have created their own dynamic iGoogle themes that users can use to decorate and personalise their homepages.
With iGoogle, users can access and arrange the content they want on their homepage to personalise their web experience.
To find the work of your favourite Australian artists, visit www.google.com.au/artistthemes. To see themes from around the world, including global figures such as Coldplay, Dolce & Gabbana, Jeff Koons, Jackie Chan, Diane von Furstenberg, Mark Ecko, Nigo ®, Philippe Starck, Oscar de la Renta and the Beastie Boys, visit www.google.com/help/ig/art/.
"This is a way to give iGoogle users more fun options to personalise their Google experience," said Julian Sonego, Consumer Marketing Manager, Google Australia. "By teaming up with great Australian artists and celebrities, we’re providing users with some great new homepage designs, and introducing the artists to a new format to display their art and express themselves. It’s like an online art gallery with millions of daily visitors."
John Butler
"The term Google has become part of the English vernacular as a way to say go find out yourself…get informed. As someone who is part of a progressive generation who sees this small world as one interconnected community, I’m proud to represent the Australian arts scene on a global level."
Ken Done – Photo 1 and Photo 2
"Since cave-man times, artists have been making marks on things, usually only seen by a handful of people. To make a mark on Google that can be seen by millions is the ultimate in modern day communication."
Anne Geddes – Photo
"It was lovely of Google to invite me to participate as one of the international artists in the iGoogle skins launch. I’m pleased to share my images with a variety of new audiences through the digital medium. I hope Google users will enjoy them, as they help convey my core values to ‘protect, nurture and love’ all children."
Rolf Harris – Photo
"Most of us use the internet daily and to have painted a theme which anyone, on the internet anywhere in the world, can access is an amazing thought. My iGoogle theme evolves according to the time of day and the painting takes on different colours and tones so that the screen reflects the time whether you are in Brighton or Bangalore."
Missy Higgins
"It was fun having the freedom to create a home-page that reflects my life. It definitely makes it more interesting to log on when you have cute little updates and reminders each day about all the things you care about."
Akira Isogawa – Photo 1 and Photo 2
"Before being approached for this I had no idea that personalising a Google homepage was a possibility. Fashion to me equates to expressing one’s individual identity, so it’s pretty amazing seeing this personalisation across all walks of life now, including technology. I’m used to working with fabrics so seeing my designs in a totally different setting and working with Google has been a fantastic, eye opening experience. Who knows what the future holds with these sorts of collaborations."
Reg Mombassa – Photo 1 and Photo 2
"I’m a committed Luddite and would not know how to turn a computer on, but I am told that many people like to use them. I like people to look at my pictures and it is good to take them off the gallery walls and put them onto other things. So the opportunity to have some of them featured on computer screens is much appreciated. Thank you Mr. Google."
The Wiggles
"Wiggles fans love to be able to see their friends every day. Now, every time you connect onto Google, you can connect with all The Wiggles and our friends, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus, Captain Feathersword and Wags the Dog. We tried to make our pages reflect what children love music, dancing and having fun! So get ready for fun and get ready to Wiggle!"
*Editor’s Note: Please note that the iGoogle skin of each artist has been super imposed onto the notebook screens. Also, some of the images of the artists do not appear on MediaFire’s page. The images are there, please click on the "Download Image" icon of the associated artist and the file will proceed to download.
iGoogle, Google’s personalised homepage, lets users customise their internet experience, choosing the content they’re interested in seeing. Users can access weather forecasts, movie times, play games, or read the latest news, all directly from their homepage. For more, please visit:www.google.com.au/igoogle
Rob Shilkin, Google, rshilkin@google.com
Veronica Colvin, SpectrumLife, veronicac@spectrumcomms.com.au, 02 9954 3299
Labels: Australia new announcements
