http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/15/business/media/15illo.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=google%20illustrators&st=cse

Google is joining the cheap wagon by extending an offer to artists asking them to submit Google designs in exchange for glory of being a Google Skin designer. Seems a bit presumptuous to ask established designers to do this but in these economic times many did so anyways. Google refused to release the names of artists that did agree to participate and would not specify when the launch of this campaign will be.