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Winter Is Coming

Nike Designer Takes A Run At The Game of Thrones House Sigils

by Jill Pantozzi | 10:17 am, September 5th, 2012



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    In his A Song of Ice and Fire series, George R.R. Martin is very specific when it comes to describing people and objects but he's extra specific when it comes to describing the House Sigils of the families of Westeros. With that in mind, it was interesting to see how the sigils were translated on screen for HBO's Game of Thrones but the designing didn't stop there. Fans of the series have illustrated what they saw in their minds while reading the books and now Darrin Crescenzi, a top designer for Nike, has done the same. "I’m not entirely sure of the full impact the books had on my social life, but there was definitely a span there where friends stopped calling," he said of his obsession. Sounds like a kindred spirit to me! Take a look at his stylized redesigns for House Stark, Greyjoy, Tyrell, Lannister, and more!

  2. 2.

    Crescenzi has designed things like the Nike Fuel gauge and the U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball uniforms but this was pure geeky joy for him.

  3. 3.

    “I didn’t brand each house--George R.R. Martin did, and whether or not it was intentional, the result is an integral piece in the success the series,” he said. "The sigils really do act as branding, in that they give each character formal distinctions--Lannister’s use of crimson and gold, for example, sets that family apart from the rest on a purely visual level. But they also serve to give a vague indication of the values and psychology of the wearer. That same crimson and gold alludes to power and wealth and vitality, and when combined with the symbol of a rearing lion, tells a holistic story about the prominence of that family and their importance within the narrative."

  4. 4.

    The designer said he tried to give the sigils a unified visual language and went so far as to completely change a few of the house designs he felt were too literal.

  5. 5.

    Crescenzi said, "These brands become such a key part of the reading experience--Night’s Watch black might as well be Tiffany blue or UPS brown or T-Mobile pink.”

  6. 6.

    You can see more of Crescenzi's sigil designs here and also purchase prints if you love his work.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=550556373 Christopher Lee Mannix

    Wasn’t House Bolton the hanged or flayed man? Aside from the color scheme, I don’t see it. However, it’s still cool and all the others look great!

  • Andrew Pienkos

    The flayed man, not the hanged man. I can sort of infer it from this picture, but the books describe it as horrifying Bran, so I don’t think this sigil really captures it

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1016288766 Criona Gavin

    There’s a slightly mackintosh-y feel to some of them.

  • Anonymous

    The Martell sun looks too much like a sad smiley – but the Greyjoy was to Die and Live Again for!!!
    I wantsss it

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