A coat of arms follows centuries-old heraldic conventions, but designing one — whether for a personal project, a family, or an organization — is more approachable than it looks once you understand the basic building blocks. Here’s how to put one together.
Understand the Basic Structure
A traditional coat of arms is built from a few core elements:
- The shield (escutcheon) — the central design surface and the most important element
- Tinctures — the colors and metals used (gold/or, silver/argent, red/gules, blue/azure, black/sable, green/vert, purple/purpure)
- Charges — the symbols or images placed on the shield (animals, objects, geometric shapes)
- Ordinaries — simple geometric bands or shapes (a cross, a chevron, a bend) that divide or decorate the shield
- Crest and motto — optional elements placed above and below the shield
Step-by-Step: Designing Your Coat of Arms
1. Choose your shield shape
Shield shapes vary by heraldic tradition (pointed, curved, or heater-shaped are common in Western heraldry). Pick one that fits your intended use — simpler shapes work better for small reproductions like seals or embroidery.
2. Follow the rule of tincture
The single most important heraldic rule: never place a color directly on another color, or a metal directly on another metal. A colored charge (like red) should sit on a metal background (gold or silver), and a metal charge should sit on a colored background. This keeps the design readable at a distance, which was the original practical purpose of heraldry.
3. Select meaningful charges
Choose symbols that represent what the coat of arms stands for — animals for strength or virtues (lions for courage, eagles for nobility), tools or objects tied to a trade or history, or geographic elements tied to a place of origin. Traditionally, charges are kept simple and bold rather than highly detailed, since heraldry was designed to be recognizable from a distance.
4. Add ordinaries if desired
Ordinaries can divide the shield into sections or add a simple decorative band. They’re optional — many coats of arms use only charges on a plain background — but they can help balance a design or add additional symbolic meaning.
5. Design the crest and motto (optional)
A crest sits above the shield, often on a helmet, and a motto is placed on a scroll below. These are traditionally used for personal or family arms rather than civic ones, but can add another layer of meaning to any design.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a family crest and a coat of arms? Technically, “crest” refers only to the element above the shield/helmet, while “coat of arms” refers to the whole design, including the shield. In everyday use, though, people often use “family crest” loosely to mean the whole coat of arms.
Do I need official permission to design my own coat of arms? In most countries, there’s no legal requirement to register a personal coat of arms, though a few countries (like the UK, through the College of Arms) have formal heraldic authorities that grant and regulate official arms. For personal or organizational use without an official grant, you’re generally free to design your own following traditional conventions.
Can I use any colors and symbols I want? Yes, especially for a personal or non-official design — heraldry has traditions and rules (like the rule of tincture) but no universal legal restrictions outside of officially granted arms. Following the conventions simply makes your design read as more traditionally “heraldic.”