Easter Eggs in Digital Design
You’re probably familiar with the term ‘Easter Egg’- no, not the chocolate kind, but those clever little treasures deliberately tucked away in films and video games, waiting for the curious explorer who knows just where to look. Named for their concealed and playful nature, these hidden gems might reveal a message, suggest a clue, or simply reward viewers with a moment of unexpected delight.
Well, this whimsical trend extends beyond entertainment media into the digital realm. Across countless websites and applications, designers have masterfully concealed their own Easter eggs – surprises activated by an obscure button press, a particular key combination, or buried deep within seemingly ordinary interfaces.
So, what are they used for?
Adding personality
Typically, easter eggs exist purely for fun. These digital treasures infuse websites and applications with a touch of whimsy and character, serving as a playful reward for keen observers who notice the smallest details. They never distract, nor interfere – they simply bring a welcome hint of humanity to our digital interactions.
Building brand loyalty
Occasionally, clever brands might tuck away special codes or rewards for their most devoted customers, with many companies unveiling themed Easter eggs during festive seasons like Christmas or April Fools’ Day, offering delightful seasonal surprises for those in the know.
Where can I find them?
404 Page, Konami Code and Inspect
There are several places worth exploring if you’re on an Easter egg hunt. Ever landed on a 404 “Page Not Found” error? Rather than just dead ends, these can sometimes hide mini-games or interactive surprises, much like Google’s addictive little dinosaur jumper that appears when you’re offline. You can also try inputting the Konami Code (up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, b, a) when you’re on a website to trigger an Easter Egg, like the confetti that appears on Buzzfeed.
For the more tech-curious among us, right-clicking to “Inspect” a page reveals its HTML innards, where developers occasionally leave secret messages as a wink to fellow code-explorers.
Now let’s get into our Top 5 Digital Design Easter Eggs 👇
1. Amazon – Duck
Peek behind Amazon’s digital curtain using Inspect, and you might stumble upon their delightfully absurd “Meowing Duck” – serving absolutely no purpose beyond putting a smile on a code-savvy explorer’s face. Meanwhile, Disney’s approach is more heartfelt, with an inspirational Walt Disney quote nestled within their HTML as a subtle tribute to their visionary founder. Ultimately, an Easter Egg can have as little or as much meaning as you choose to make it.
2. Spotify – Eat This Playlist
Spotify has been known to tweak the UI in the app from time to time to celebrate popular culture moments, with special UI changes for fans of Stranger Things and Star Wars soundtracks. But have you discovered their “Eat This Playlist” game? It’s hiding in plain sight – just click the three dots on any playlist and scroll to the bottom option. This launches an in-app game where you can eat the song covers to grow the snake – a fun nod to the 90’s snake game that devoured countless hours of our lives.
3. Google – Askew & Tilt
The search giant has hidden roughly 79 Easter eggs since the early 2000s throughout their products. Try searching “tilt,” “askew,” or “dutch angle” and watch your results page tip sideways – a perfect example of these delightful digital surprises that serve no purpose beyond bringing unexpected joy to curious users.
4. WWF – Logo Spin
This legendary gaming sequence known as the Konami Code (up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A) unlocks surprises across the web. Organisations like WWF use it to make their panda logo playfully spin, while Buzzfeed showers your screen with confetti and Vogue once revealed exclusive content to those in-the-know.
5. Instagram – Emoji Pong
Instagram took a page from Spotify’s playbook by embedding a secret Pong-inspired game within direct messages, bringing a touch of retro gaming nostalgia to modern social interactions. To uncover this hidden gem, simply double-tap or press with two fingers on any emoji in your DMs, and watch as the classic game springs to life right in your conversation.
Let the easter egg hunt begin!
Next time you’re browsing your favourite website, take a moment to explore – press unusual key combinations, inspect the code or search for oddly-placed buttons. You never know what delightful surprises might be waiting for your discovery.
And since you’ve read this far, you might have guessed where we’ve hidden our own Easter egg… Have you thought to check our HTML yet?
Happy hunting! 🐣🐰