Beauty in Badges
An Investigation into the Most Aesthetically Pleasing House Crest
L. D. Banks
A COAT OF ARMS IS USED TO IDENTIFY A FAMILY OR ALLIANCE, but at Shore they are used to identify each of the Houses. Often these crests go unrecognised, hence, I feel it is my job to bring attention to these intricate badges. Each crest depicts a specific focal point, be it an animal or object, and generally consists of 2-3 colours. The following results have been judged by three main criteria; the symbol of the house, the colour scheme, and the ‘WOW’ factor. The bottom eight crests are not included in the list.
- Hodges House
Although I can respect the divine symbolism of the bible, and its link to the Christian life of the school, the black and yellow colour scheme is too reminiscent of The Bee Movie. Subsequently, this is why Hodges has claimed the number 10 spot. The fashionable dark background is the main reason that this crest made the shortlist, as it makes for a good insignia on a jumper, house colours badge or the colours patch on the sports blazer.
- Burns House
The yellow and blue colour scheme of the Burns crest is not highly attractive, although this is contrasted by the highly attractive focal keys. The confident and forceful name ‘Burns’, makes up for the color scheme and overall complexion. However, the bright colors make the crest pop when put onto a colours patch/badge, and certainly are recognisable from a distance.
- Emery House
The defining feature of the Emery House crest is the focal animal. The bold Lion is symbolic of Jesus, who is bold and courageous, but also is the model of servant leadership, a core value of the school. The colour pallet is certainly an improvement over the previous crests, but is much too reminiscent of the familiar McDonald’s logo.
- School House
The School House crest is iconic to Shore, as the focal object is the ‘torch of life’ mentioned in the School motto and song, ‘Vitai Lampada Tradunt’. The colour scheme is a significant improvement from the previous crests, although the highly contrasting red and light blue are not a particularly aesthetic combination as depicted. Furthermore, the name ‘School’ house lacks individuality and significantly thwarts any attempts at giving the crest some personality.
- Mathers House
As far as focal points go, a somewhat angelic eagle is about as good as it gets. The fashionable logo is a crucial aspect to the success of this crest in this list. Furthermore, the colour scheme is relatively attractive, and makes the crest really pop. As a house colours badge or patch it blends well with the school uniform. In addition, the name ‘Mathers’ has a certain ring to it, and is certainly unique with a bit of personality.
- Anderson House
I am a particularly big fan of the Anderson House crest. I love the colour scheme and wave pattern, but the piercing yellow is too bright against the background. However, the sharp points of the rays of the sun are very intimidating and add a certain personality to the crest. The name ‘Anderson’ is more of a human name rather than a house (compared to Burns or Burrell). The crest certainly has the wow factor, and has subsequently made such a high spot on the list.
- Gilmour House
The Gilmour House logo is one of two crests (the second did not make the list), that has two main focal objects/animals. The combination of the pure white dove and the deep blue shell make a complimentary combination. Due to the black background the crest looks exceptional on a sports blazer or as a house colours badge, which is a significant contributor to the rank of this badge. The name ‘Gilmour’ certainly is unique and a bit punchy, although it is not particularly commanding as the name of a house.
- Pascoe House
The first crest on the podium: Pascoe House. Although it is not particularly menacing, it has a particular personality that I can appreciate. The inviting fig tree, paired with the charming light blue and dark green colour pallet, make it a very special crest. The fig tree symbolises the growth and development of the boys, with the fruit symbolising the benefits of living a good life. These factors provide a positive message. Overall Pascoe’s crest is one of the best in design, and subsequently claims the bronze medal position.
- Barry House
I must admit, the top two results were extremely close. I was unable to make the decision on my own and had to resort to a jury of many of my peers from across the school. Thus, Barry House claims the silver medal. The colour scheme is the knockout punch on this crest. The red with navy looks amazing on a photo, colours badge or on the sports blazer. This is accentuated by the focal object, the bishop’s mitre. I understand it is symbolic of the Christian life of the school, but it also looks cool. Overall, the Barry House crest certainly brings the wow factor and subsequently claims the number 2 spot.
- Burrell House
The Burrell House crest brings together a perfect culmination of all important aspects when designing a crest. The colour scheme is exceptionally attractive, with the dark background paired with the pale light blue highlights, it is certainly the best colour scheme. This is combined with the focal animal being a Pegasus, a winged horse, a beacon of strength, adventure, courage, endurance and an overall inspiring animal. The Pegasus symbolises the ability of boys to soar to great heights. The name ‘Burrell’, although admittedly not as commanding as some of the others, is still a very assertive name. Ultimately, Burrell’s crest has character, is unique and certainly possesses the wow factor. This culmination of stunning aspects is what makes the Burrell House crest so special, enabling it to claim the gold medal in a highly competitive field.