Logo Design
For ‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’ (2022) we created a logo that could be used on various props throughout the film. British Lion Film Corp Logo was featured on the film truck, business cards, and script pages. We chose a lion as they long have held significant symbolism and have been prominently featured in British logos. With a rich history dating back to medieval times, lions have been associated with the strength and courage of the British monarchy. The lion symbolizes power, nobility, and majesty, making it a fitting emblem for organizations seeking to convey a sense of authority and heritage. From the regal lion in the Royal Arms of England to the iconic emblem of the football club Aston Villa, the presence of lions in British logos evokes a sense of national pride and tradition. The use of lions not only adds a touch of grandeur but also reflects a deep-seated connection to the nation's history and values.
When a film or television show is set in a particular historical period, we are tasked with researching and recreating emblems from that time. In Downton Abbey: A New Era, some of the family travel to France. During this time the Southern was the natural carrier for passengers and freight to the continent. The below 1928 advert by T D Kerr describes Southern Railway as ‘The Gateway to the Continent'. From 1923 to 1948, after which the Railways were nationalised, Southern Railway was formed by grouping existing railways such as London and South Western Railway, The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway and the combined systems of the South Eastern Railway and the London, Chatham and Dover Railway, under the South Eastern & Chatham Railways' Managing Committee, etc... This was reflected in the Southern Railway coat of arms which incorporated heraldic elements from the main constituent companies, such as the two dolphins from the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway.
In ‘The Essex Serpent (2022)’ letters are received baring a wax seal with the United Kingdom’s coat of arms. The coat of arms is very well-known and complex, and much of the detail would be lost in the wax. At the centre of the arms is a quartered shield, depicting the three passant guardant lions of England in the first and fourth quarters, the rampant lion and double tressure flory-counterflory of Scotland in the second quarter, and a harp for Ireland in the third quarter. Surrounding the shield is the Order of the Garter, the United Kingdom's most senior order of knighthood. The supporters are a crowned English lion on the dexter (heraldic right), and a chained Scottish unicorn on the sinister (heraldic left). Above the shield is a gold helmet with a mantling of gold and ermine attached to it. On top of this is the crest, a crown with a crowned lion standing on it. Below the shield is a grassy mound, a type of compartment, on which are thistles, Tudor roses, and shamrocks, representing Scotland, England, and Ireland respectively. In front of this is the motto Dieu et mon droit, a French phrase meaning 'God and my right'. The challenge was picking out the most important and recognisable elements that could still be rendered inside a 25mm circle.
