SiggersLogo Design Contest

Spearhead - Duc a Fronte

My family came from England in the 1840s, but before 1066, we were Vikings. Our family name means, "The point of the spear." I want to design a Family Crest, like a Coat of Arms. I have a very good idea of what I want it to look like, but I need a professional to render it. The final product must be able to be printed on glass, ceramic, and cloth. These crests will be used by my family members only.

Green is my favorite color, followed by blue. But for a coat of arms-style family crest, other colors will be more prominent, such as a field of yellow, and black and silver (gray) accents. This is all negotiable, since a graphic designer will be able to imagine colors that I cannot. More ideas below.

I want to start with a round Viking shield in a warm, creamy yellow. Around the outside is a thin border of brown or black. Criss-crossed over it are two long spears that extend well past the borders of the shield. They are mounted at 45 degrees (90 degrees to each other). The shafts are black or brown and the spearheads are silver or gray.

The spear shafts divide the shield into four pie-shaped fields. The top field at 12 o'clock will have an image of a Viking ship, symbolizing our Viking heritage. The right field (3 o'clock) will have French fleur de leis, representing the Normans who were Vikings that settled in France. Another symbol of Normandy could be used if a better one is found. The bottom field should have an image of a British lion, representing our 800 years in England. And the left field should have an image of the top half of the Statue of Liberty. These would all be a solid color. No design within these images is necessary. My first thoughts are that they would be blue, but I am looking for design ideas for this.

Above the shield, spread out on a banner between the spear shafts, is the family name "SIGGERS." The spearheads should extend beyond the banner a little. Below the shield, another matching banner proclaims the word "SPEARHEAD." Floating below the crest in a straight line, in an appropriate font and color, is the slogan "DUC A FRONTE" which is Latin and means "Lead From the Front."

The placement of the symbols is important, but we can play with colors to get the best overall product. It has to be dignified, but we can use flashes of color to give it life.

I am also looking for people in the industry, hopefully in the Western US, who can make the finished products for me to create a crest that can be mounted on ceramic near my front door, and/or on glass on an interior wall. I might also put it on shirts for a family reunion.