Google Hamburg Gallery

Friday, June 1, 2007

Google Hamburg Gallery

Google Germany’s Hamburg office isn’t for engineering or research & development but handles press and customer relations instead. It is (predictably) filled with all the items that are now Google insignias, from lava lamps and lots of toys to colorful bean bags, as well as free food in the cafeteria. Google’s Kay Oberbeck told me Google plans to grow even faster in foreign markets to better localize products. I asked him whether transporting the original Mountain View philosophy is as easy as stuffing a new office with the Google “design.” Kay argued that the dynamics of change are good for a company; “You don’t want to be stuck in 1998.”

(Google’s Hamburg office isn’t that big, this is just where you enter.)

Behind the entrance door, a receptionist, a Google sign-up computer (give your digital signature to a non-disclosure agreement, and a badge is printed), and a search ticker awaits.

Google logo doodles on the wall.

“Cooler thinking”... that’s a fridge.

The Google candy grabber.

Google’s self-proclaimed mission and core values (“We want to work with great people” – “Technology innovation is our lifeblood” – “Working at Google is fun” – “Be actively involved; you are Google” – Don’t take success for granted” – “Do the right thing; don’t be evil” – “Earn customer and user loyalty and respect every day” – “Sustainable long-term growth and profitability are key to our success” – “Google cares about and supports the communities where we work and live” – “We aspire to improve and change the world”).