What you need to know
- Google has initiated the rollout of vibrant new gradient icons for its Workspace applications, including Gmail, Drive, Docs, Calendar, and more.
- The revamped icons move away from Google’s traditional four-color scheme, embracing a more fluid and colorful gradient aesthetic.
- While the new icons are already visible in Google’s web app launcher, users will still see the older versions in the applications for the time being.
As anticipation builds for Google I/O 2026, the tech giant has begun unveiling its redesigned gradient icons for various Workspace applications, including Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Calendar, and Tasks. This visual refresh comes nearly six years after the previous redesign, as hinted by a recent leak that suggested a significant shift towards gradients and blended colors.
The new icons reflect a departure from the previously strict color separations, showcasing a softer, more cohesive look. For instance, the Google Drive icon now prominently features shades of green, yellow, and blue, shedding the small red corner detail that characterized its former design. Similarly, the icons for Docs, Slides, and Sheets have adopted a gentler gradient appearance, moving away from their flatter predecessors.
In a notable change, the Google Calendar icon is shifting back to a predominantly blue design, while Gmail retains its iconic envelope-shaped ‘M’ logo, now enhanced with gradients instead of solid hues. The Google Meet icon has also transitioned to a more yellow-centric gradient style, contributing to a fresh visual identity. Additionally, Keep and Tasks have undergone simplifications, resulting in a softer overall aesthetic.
These new icons have already begun appearing on Google’s homepage, signaling an expected broader rollout across the Workspace applications during the Google I/O week or shortly thereafter.
Android Central’s Take
The direction Google is taking with these new icons is commendable. The Calendar icon, in particular, presents a much cleaner and modern look, and the move away from the rigid four-color branding enhances the overall appeal of the Workspace suite. However, there remains some skepticism regarding the new designs for the Meet and Tasks icons, which may require further refinement to fully resonate with users.
