Google reminds us to stay curious

Shot during the night, full of people gazing upward, Google’s advert for their new phone showcases the wonder of the stars.  

Stephen Hawking’s voice joins people of all nations as they look up at the stars in awe. They snap photos in beautiful high quality, pieces of the Milky Way, distant constellations, and delicate asterisms, all on their Pixel 4 phones. The inspiring speech in the background is well reflected in the faces of the actors, who were cast inclusively, including a young man in a wheelchair. 

The visions of nature from different locales are graded in a way that clearly connects all of them, despite the shifting landscapes. Hecho Studios, a full-service creative studio, has done a good job connecting the product to the world, ubiquitously reminding us that Google is not just a brand, but a verb. The excerpted quote is a touch ironic considering it’s taken from when Hawking wrote about the need to escape earth or risk nuclear annihilation, but perhaps the tongue-in-cheek reference works for the ad.  

Graceful and slick, the ad is a nice reminder of how technology impacts us and allows us to share beauty with each other. Google and Hecho have showcased possibilities rather than products and it’s the desire to interact with our environment that is the driving force of the piece.