Features

Katherine Chisnall's Google Doodle

Millions to view Wilts doodle

A doodle drawn by a 13-year-old Wiltshire schoolgirl is about to go on show for 24 hours to an audience of over 20 million people.

Katherine Chisnall, from Trowbridge, managed to beat off more than 15,000 other entrants to win the nationwide 'Doodle 4 Google – My Britain' competition.

Doodle 4 Google

Tony Robinson and Katherine

Google has been 'Doodling' its own logo, on the Google homepage, for years to celebrate events and special dates.  But last April young Brits, aged 4-18, were given the chance to come up with their own 'Doodle 4 Google' on the theme of Britishness.

Thousands entered with their take on Britishness… with half plumping for the Union Jack, a third for the Monarchy and Big Ben and less than 1% choosing Harry Potter and fewer again James Bond.

The majority, however, drew monuments… which was the theme of Katherine's design.

Entitled "Five wonders of Britain" Katherine's doodle, despite being stonehenge-less, celebrates five iconic landmarks including the Millennium Sculpture, the London Eye, Blackpool Tower, Edinburgh Castle and the Severn Bridge. 

Announced as the winner of the South West region, at the beginning of October, Katherine's design than faced the public vote in a head to head clash with 30 other short-listed entries.

But on Monday, at a special event at the Science Museum in London hosted by presenter and historian Tony Robinson, the St. Augustine's RC pupil's design was revealed as the overall winner.

Katherine's Doodle goes Live

Dennis Hwang

Due to be displayed on the www.google.co.uk homepage for 24 hours, from 5pm on Monday 6th November, Katherine's works is expected to be seen by around 20 million people:

"I can't believe I've won!” says Katherine.  "Thank you so much to everyone who voted for me!"

But she hasn't just won the chance for her work to be seen by millions, Katherine has also won a trip to Google's HQ (the Googleplex in San Francisco) to work with Dennis Hwang Google's webmaster and original doodler:

"Katherine is a very deserving winner – I loved her doodle, as did our panel of judges and the hundreds of thousands who took part in the public vote," says Dennis Hwang.

"I'm very proud to have her work on the Google UK homepage for a day as a special celebration of Britishness."

Katherine's Google Doodle will be on the www.google.co.uk homepage for 24 hours, from 5pm on Monday 6th November 2006.