Google acquires design start-up Gecko Design for X project


Google has bought product design firm Gecko Design for an undisclosed sum, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The company has made the acquisition with an aim to bolster its Google X project lab which is responsible or the self driven car, Project Loon and Google Glass.

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Founded in 1996 by Jacques Gagné, Gecko is a product and industrial design firm that has been involved in developing products, both hardware and software, for tech clients like Fitbit, HP, Dell, and the One Laptop Per Child Project.

“This is an incredible opportunity for everyone at Gecko. We are very excited and honored to join Google (x) and work on a variety of cutting edge products”.

wrote Gecko President and Owner Jacques  Gagné  on the company website.

As a result of the acquisition,  Gagné and other four Gecko Design employees will be joining Google X. The report also stated that the design firm has worked with Google X on projects in the past.

This is Google’s fourth acquisition in August as it recently acquired image-recognition specialist Jetpac, video-editing app developer Directr, and smart texting firm Emu. While last month it had bought music streaming service Songza.

Tech companies are focusing more on design and investing in such companies and talent these days.

via:The Wall Street Journal


Author: Sneha Bokil

Sneha Bokil is a tech enthusiast and is currently using OnePlus 3T but she still treasures her Nokia N70 (M). You can follow her on Twitter @snehabokil and on Google+