18. Why is the interview process important?:
- The Interview process is important for a variety of reasons. First and foremost it gives you, the client, the first and primary influence over what you would like to see in your shield. Only you can provide first hand information on your personal aesthetic preferences. Second it helps to get the design process moving and allows the artist to feel comfortable about what they are arranging. The email interview will also minimize the need for back and forth adjustments of the final design...
- The artist can come up with a design off the cuff, with limited information, but who wants to have a meaningless shield? The more you participate and share in the email interview, the better the design will be. The questions sent to you will cover only basic interests and some professional information. Why ask these questions? Well if the artist knows your favorite colors, metals, animals and design aspirations then his initial design will be more of a refined product...
- What if I don’t know much about heraldry or what options I have for a shield? That’s ok, once you send in your petition and commission a Coat of Arms, we will send you basic examples of shield divisions, colors and lists of animals and objects common to heraldry. We will also explain the items selected for your shield and the blazonry used to describe your shield once its finished. (This way you can show off to your friends when they ask, “what does this mean?”) The whole process will be a fun learning experience...