For many years, Google Forms helped people register for events, respond to surveys, and automate quiz grading. As an info-gathering tool, Google Forms worked well.

Only some designers and marketers hesitated to use Google Forms. As a make-building tool, Google Forms performed poorly. Every Google Grade looked similar: Google Forms offered few options to differentiate forms with design ( Effigy A).

Figure A

Before September 2014, most Google Forms looked similar.

In September 2014, Google added several new Class themes, many of which are advisable for school or social events. For example, the set includes "Homework" and "Library" themes, as well equally "Birthday Cats" and "Game Dark" themes.

You can customize colors, images, and fonts for each theme, as well. You can transform any of the default themes into a custom theme to convey your system's make — or your school spirit, if you happen to be in didactics.

Customize a Google Form theme

To customize a Grade theme, go to google.com/forms to create a new form (Figure B). Enter class details, as earlier (due east.thousand., add together the form title, descriptions, questions, etc.).

Figure B

Choose and customize a theme for your Google Forms.
  1. Cull "View" from the course'southward main carte du jour, and then "Modify theme." A window will display to the right of your class. Coil within this window to view new theme options.
  2. Select a theme, then choose "Customize."
  3. Customize theme characteristics, every bit follows.

Add an image to the:

  • Header epitome, which appears at the top of the grade
  • Folio groundwork, which appears behind the course

(Notation: Uploaded images must be smaller than 3,500 x 2,500 pixels.)

Customize the font for the:

  • Championship (typically, the name of the form)
  • Description (most oft this explains the class's purpose)
  • Questions
  • Help text (explanatory text for each question)
  • Options (font for question responses)

You lot may choose from hundreds of web-friendly fonts. If yous're unsure which font to utilize, I suggest you standardize on a single font that almost closely matches the font on your organization's letterhead. If you prefer to use two fonts, select one font for the Championship and Clarification, and a second font for the Questions, Assistance text, and Options sections. (See my April 2014 article, " More than Arial: Build your brand with Google fonts" to learn more about Google web fonts.)

Finally, you may customize the color of the form background ( Figure C). Most oft, you'll get out this set to the default to ensure ease of reading.

Figure C

Differentiate your system's Google Forms with your logo and/or custom images, fonts, and colors.

View the form in context

Take a look at the form on different devices to make sure information technology appears as expected earlier yous publish or share the link. In your browser, select the "View alive form" to examine the course in a new tab and verify that it displays as expected. Look at the form on a tablet and smartphone, as well.

When yous embed the form into another web page, review the course in context for size and colour. Y'all may need to adjust the width and peak of the embedded grade. (From the main menu, choose "File" then "Embed" to access and alter these numbers.) You lot should too make sure the colors and fonts of the customized form piece of work well with the design of the surrounding web page.

Reuse a class theme

You tin reuse a custom theme with other forms ( Figure D). To do this, create your new form, select "View," and so "Change theme" as before (in step 1 to a higher place). Next, select "Choose form" in the "Copy a theme" selection, then detect and select the previously customized Google Form. The theme images, colors, and fonts will transfer.

Figure D

Reuse your customizations with the "Copy a theme" option.

If possible, work with a graphic designer to customize an initial Google Class. And then, share that form then that "everyone in the organization" may access it — and reuse the customizations. That way, you lot'll reinforce your organisation's brand every fourth dimension people fill out a Google Grade.

Take you customized Google Forms for your arrangement withal? Practise you take whatever additional Google Form customization tips to share? Let us know in the discussion thread below.