Imperial Griffins

Imperial Griffins is a motion logo and visual identity project created for a Persian speaking virtual squadron in DCS World. The project explores the transformation of a heraldic emblem into an animated digital identity, combining historical symbolism with contemporary motion design. The central visual element is the griffin, a legendary creature traditionally depicted with the body of a lion, the head of an eagle, and powerful wings. With its long association with Persian and ancient Iranian visual culture, the griffin provided the foundation for a distinctive emblem that could represent strength, heritage, and authority. Artafen developed the animated logo as a frame-by-frame motion piece, working across logo animation, clean up, color design, sound design, compositing, and editing. The animation was designed to preserve the character and structure of the original heraldic artwork while giving the emblem a dynamic presence suitable for a modern digital environment. The visual identity also incorporates an inscription associated with Darius the Great and the Achaemenid period, presented in cuneiform. This historical reference connects the modern virtual squadron with a much older visual and cultural heritage, giving the logo a deeper narrative dimension beyond its role as a graphic mark. The final motion logo brings together heraldic design, frame-by-frame animation, sound, compositing, and editing to create a memorable animated identity for Imperial Griffins. Read our in depth essay on Persian Symbols in Contemporary Visual Design to explore the cultural research and visual story behind this project.