1) Consistent branding is vital
Each house on the show has both a sigil and a motto. They understand that branding is important, as it’s the first impression many get of their families. Furthermore, their branding, both sigil and motto, reinforces whatever their house stands for. For example, House Tyrell’s sigil is a golden rose on a green field, and their motto is “Growing Strong.” This makes sense since they rule over a very fertile land area and their capital is called Highgarden.


2) Never underestimate anyone
There are two characters on the show who really reinforce the idea that you should never underestimate anyone: Tyrion Lannister, dwarf and brother of Cersei and Jaime; and Arya Stark, youngest daughter of Ned Stark.
3) Great work can quickly get derailed
The best laid plans on the show have a way of very quickly going off track. One of the most common phrases on the show is valar morghulis: ”All men must die.” That alone tells you that regardless of what you might have planned, things aren’t necessarily going to happen as you want them to. The lesson, though, is that despite plans constantly getting derailed on the show, the characters keep pushing on. That’s a valuable lesson for a designer or developer: don’t give up when something isn’t working as planned.4) Form useful alliances and teams
The deals that get struck between houses and individuals in Westeros show just how important networking and forming alliances can be. Meeting the right people, and forming relationships with them, can greatly increase your chances of meeting your goals.
5) Looks aren’t everything
Game of Thrones teaches us that looks aren’t necessarily everything if the functionality is there.
6) Sometimes you have to be ruthless
If there’s one thing that Game of Thrones has done better than a lot of shows, it’s the art of being ruthless. In virtually every episode there are examples of characters acting ruthlessly for their own gain. Ruthlessness doesn’t necessarily have to equate with backstabbing (though there’s plenty of that on the show, too). It often just means stepping up to protect your own interests, and not being afraid to say you’re the best if you are, in fact, the best. If there’s a project you really want, or a client you want to work with, don’t be afraid to go after it. Write up a proposal, tell them what’s wrong with their current strategy, and tell them why you’re the person to fix it. Do it tactfully, but do it.7) Take charge when necessary
There are times in life when it’s necessary to just take charge. For example, when Daenarys Targaryen suddenly found herself leader of the Dothraki after only being a part of their culture for a short time. She took charge, not only to lead the Dothraki, but to view herself as the rightful queen of the Seven Kingdoms.
Conclusion
Looking at design from a different perspective and through different lenses can be a great way to reinforce concepts you might already know. We don’t suggest you start kidnapping your competitors, or launching armed assaults on rival studios. But Game of Thrones is an incredibly popular TV series for good reason: it echoes the stories you’ll find throughout life, and seeing the solutions the characters come up with, might help you find (less violent) solutions of your own. Featured image uses office chair image via Shutterstock.Read Next
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