Seen by hundreds of millions of people, the Google Doodles are famous for their quirky designs, unique styles, and the notable figures and events they highlight. The doodles’ artists do hours of research and sketching to include beauty and accuracy in their illustrations. This fall, one of these artists is coming to teach at BYU.
“We are excited to welcome Melissa Crowton to the BYU Department of Design,” says department chair Brent Barton. “[Crowton] brings a wealth of professional experience for someone so young in the industry. She has worked full time at Google and has also illustrated many children’s books.”
An alumna of BYU, Crowton says the illustration program became her second home as an undergraduate. Now she’s returning to campus with the goal to not just help students complete classes and a degree, but “to help them learn about themselves and their future career and feel empowered on their artistic journey.”
Although young, Crowton’s experience in the industry is impressive. She has illustrated many children’s books, and her work at Google is more than meets the eye. “As an artist, we get assigned a batch of doodles each year to illustrate,” she says. “The Doodle Team aims to celebrate untold stories of many who have perhaps been forgotten in history.”
The process of creating a doodle is more than just sitting down with a pen and paper. “I researched text, photos, and historical artifacts that will lend accuracy to my illustration,” Crowton says. “If possible, the team will reach out to community or family members who may still be living that can give us personal insight into the doodle subject itself.” The end result is a unique creation, each “special in its own way.”
With extensive experience and fresh perspective, Crowton is a new and valuable addition to the faculty.