Nigel Evan Dennis is a big Game of Thrones fan. His fascination with the series drove him to create a graphic tribute website to the show. Here are some of his thoughts on the process.
I started watching Game of Thrones since the first episode — I was immediately intrigued. I have a serious soft spot in my heart for fantasy-based things. Not crystals, dragons, wizards or any of that (although in GoT there are dragons and what seems to be some sort of wizardry in a covert, well-done way). But fantasy in the sense that what we are seeing is not on Earth. It is somewhere else. And this has always been intriguing. It is something in the back of my mind that always sticks – this idea of something like that taking place on another world, with a similar culture, a similar political hierarchy as ours and similar struggles. Even similar wildlife. The character development of Game of Thrones is superb. Most shows don’t get you engaged or even interested what seems almost immediately. Game of Thrones succeeds at this. I started the Lannisters in the middle of January 2013 and between regular work and busy schedules, it took me a little less than three months to complete. I went through several different character modifications. The coding of the site was fairly intense. But once I started, I started to have a pretty clear idea on what I wanted it to look like. It’s hard to choose a favorite character, but I really am intrigued by the Lannisters. Characters you love to hate. Ha. Jaqen H’ghar is extremely interesting. I tried to give all the characters equal attention, though. This site I’ve created is a lot of fun. I know how that sounds, but it truly is. Episode to episode, alliances change, new characters arrive, new plots twist. The site’s subject gives it so much fuel for creativity and analysis. It is one giant creative brief in some ways, and it has been a blast bringing my thoughts on the show to life. Chicago artist Nigel Evan Dennis entered the professional design world in 2004 bearing the stamp ‘Electric Heat‘. Since then, he has proved himself a prolific designer. Implementing a variety of elements from photography to typography to free-hand illustration, his compositions conceal a broad palette.