Overview
If you know anything about Smash Design, you know we always jump at the chance to create cool sculptures for Google! We’ve now sculpted four amazing pieces for installation on Google campuses to commemorate various product releases, and our latest just might be our favorite: a fun, functional Android 17 seesaw that debuted at the Google I/O conference in Mountain View, CA, in May 2026!
Our mission was to create an interactive sculpture that would capture and commemorate Android 17’s fresh “glowing glass” UI aesthetic in physical form. The finished piece is a gleaming, iridescent Android statue mounted on a custom-built see-saw: a playful metaphor for the balance between user control and Gemini Intelligence in Android 17.
Process
Android 17’s luminous, gradient-filled interface was our starting point as we worked to translate digital aesthetics into physical materials. The challenge was creating a lightweight statue sturdy enough for outdoor display in an iridescent finish that would shift colors like the OS’s dynamic gradients. So, here’s how we did it:
Engineering & Fabrication
- Carved the Android mascot from high-density foam at monumental scale
- Calculated weight distributions for see-saw functionality
- Hard-coated statue for full-contact outdoor durability
- Created mounting hardware to keep the figure balanced during motion
Innovative Finishing
- Iridescent paint applications
- Metallic undercoatings
- Specialized clear coat finishes
- Multiple test iterations to achieve the perfect light-shifting effect
Most important was testing the seesaw installation and ensuring that Google developers could safely ride while maintaining the sculpture’s balance and visual impact. Basically, we rode the hell out of that seesaw!
Result
Our Android 17 playground statue became a highlight of Google I/O in Mountain View. Developers were lining up to experience the installation! The iridescent finish created stunning visual effects in natural light, generating viral social media content. After its conference debut, the piece will be permanently installed on Google’s campus.
The whole Smash Design team is so proud to continue our Android partnership, creating unique artistic interpretations for each release. This project exemplifies how experiential design can transform brand messaging into tangible, joyful interactions that resonate with audiences long after the event ends.
