International Women's Day: Google Doodle celebrates 'female trailblazers' with artwork from around the world

In honour of International Women’s Day 2019, Google is celebrating past and present “female trailblazers” with a Google Doodle.

International Women’s Day is an annual global celebration of women and all they have accomplished, from political achievements to strides towards gender equality.

The celebration first started in the US in 1908 and now sees people around the globe acknowledge the day in support of women, and in the recognition of all that still needs to be achieved.

This year, Google is dedicating 8 March to “women empowering women,” with a selection of inspirational quotes from women around the world, illustrated by female artists.

The 13 quotes were comprised from a diverse group of women who all have one thing in common - they were trailblazers.

“We aimed to include a diverse representation of voices on a day which celebrates the past, present, and future community of diverse women around the world,” the company said.

Celebrated through art, the resulting creations show the stunning effects of women coming together.

The first quote: “I really believe in the idea of the future,” said by British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, was illustrated by Abjad Design, a female-owned design studio in Dubai.

According to the design studio, the quote, illustrated in purple, “carries with it a sense of hope and optimism for a brighter and better future”.

The illustrations created by Brazilian type artist Cyla Costa are dedicated to two female novelists, George Sand, who said: “The future can awaken in a more beautiful way than the past,” and Clarice Lispector, who said: “I am stronger than myself.”

According to Costa, she interpreted Lispector’s quote to mean the power of self-identity and the importance of women choosing their own identity.

A quote by Dr Mae Jemison, an American astronaut and physician, who said: “Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations,” was conceptualised by Brighton-based British designer and illustrator Kate Forrester.

The words of German writer Emma Herwegh: “Let nothing bind you in the world other than your highest inner truth,” were illustrated in the next design, created by German designer and lettering artist Rosa Kammermeier.

Kammermeier chose to illustrate the quote with a bird escaping a cage as “a symbol for the freedom of your mind”.

Indian paper typographer and illustrator Sabeena Karnik was also featured in the Google Doodle, for her interpretations of quotes by Indian boxer Mary Kom, who said: “Do not say you are weak, because you are a woman,” and Indian diplomat NL Beno Zephine, who said: “We are too precious to let disappointments enter our minds.”

According to Karnik, Zephine’s words evoke the possibility of accomplishing one’s dreams.

British writer and suffragette Millicent Fawcett’s quote: “Courage calls to courage everywhere,” was illustrated by Australian lettering artist Gemma O’Brien, who imagined the words in shades of purple for International Women’s Day.

“I think the most inspiring thing about this quote is how it applies beyond the women’s movement,” O’Brien said. “It only takes one courageous person to inspire many, many more.”

A quote from Nigerian writer Chimamanda Adichie, who once said: “I matter. I matter equally. Not ‘if only,’ not ‘as long as’. I matter. Full stop,” was conceptualised by New York City-based Polish graphic designer Zuzanna Rogatty - who used “expressive and rhythmic lettering” to bring the words to life.

The Google Doodle also features the work of Argentinian graphic designer Yai Salinas, who illustrated Frida Kahlo’s words: “Feet, what do I need them for if I have wings to fly?” and Russian poet Marina Tsvetaeva’s quote: “Wings are freedom only when they are wide open in flight. On one’s back they are a heavy weight.”

Salinas brought Kahlo’s words to life through a visual representation of the artist’s life - specifically with the colour yellow.

Google also chose to celebrate the day with a quote by Yoko Ono, who famously said: “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality,” and Taiwanese writer Sanmao, who also spoke about dreams when she said: “A person who has at least one dream has a reason to be strong.”

The quotes were illustrated by Japanese graphic designer Hazuki Tamano, who used the sky as inspiration for her interpretation of Ono’s words.

For the opening and closing images, Google featured the work of American illustrator Melissa Crowton, who was inspired by “the diversity of the women of the world”.

“Each element is unique in shape, texture, and size, which I found to be an apt representation of the beauty of our community,” Crowton added.

All of the illustrations can be seen here.