Have you spotted the imperfection in the Google logo?

Despite being in use for over eight years, many people are still discovering fascinating details about Google's logo.

The 'G' isn't as perfectly circular as it first appears. At a glance, the letter seems to form a flawless circle, but a closer inspection reveals that this isn’t the case.

Take a moment to look closely. The left side of the 'G' curves smoothly, giving it a circular appearance. However, the right side subtly deviates, breaking away from the expected symmetry. Could this be a hidden mistake in one of the most iconic logos in the world?

Not at all. What Google did was use a clever design technique called ‘optical balancing’. This approach ensures that the logo looks aesthetically correct to the human eye, even though it isn't geometrically perfect. Designers often use this method to account for how shapes are perceived in various contexts, compensating for the way our eyes process visual elements.

This concept of ‘optical balancing’ plays a critical role in typography and logo design. The goal is to create a visual effect that feels balanced, even if the shapes aren't technically symmetrical. A great example of this technique can be found in the famous Helvetica font, where the crossbar of the letter ‘H’ is positioned slightly above the centre. Though it’s not mathematically central, it looks perfectly centred when we look at it.

The same idea applies when designing layouts or positioning elements on a page. For instance, when centring an object vertically, leaving a bit more space at the bottom can prevent the object from appearing like it’s falling off the page. This optical trickery is crucial for maintaining visual harmony in both print and digital designs.

Google's logo is just one example of how designers use optical illusions to enhance aesthetics. Other famous brands also incorporate similar techniques to create logos that appear balanced to the naked eye, even if they aren’t perfectly symmetrical. It’s a subtle but powerful trick that plays on the way our brains interpret visual information.

So, next time you look at a logo that seems perfectly circular or geometrically precise, take a second look. You might notice some clever design choices hidden in plain sight. Can you think of another logo that looks circular but isn't quite what it seems?