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For the Game of Thrones crew, what do the symbols next to their names mean? For example, Ramin Djawadi, Gemma Jackson, and GRRM have a symbol that looks like an NES controller d-pad, editor Martin Nicholson has two crossed swords and a star, producer Mark Huffam has what appears to be a four-pointed flower, producer Frank Doelger has four small stars, etc...
A few examples :
The sigil of George R. R. Martin which seems to look like a "NES controller d-pad" is in reality a turtle.
The sigils of the cast members are their character's house, e.g. a Lannister lion for Peter Dinklage, a three-headed dragon for Emilia Clarke. A similar concept is used for crew as well. In this case, it is a personal choice. The most notable example being the one of G.R.R. Martin himself.
As mentioned by G.R.R.M in San Diego Comic-Con 2012 -
Turtles have always been my sigil, I suppose. When I was a kid, growing up in Bayonne, NJ, I lived in a federal housing project, and we were not allowed to have a dog or cats. The only pets I could have were turtles. So, I had an entire toy castle filled with dime-store turtles. I gave them all names, and since they were living in a toy castle, I decided they were all knights and kings...and I made up stories about how they killed each other and betrayed each other and fought for the kingdom. So, Game of Thrones, actually began with turtles. I decided later to recast it with actual human beings.
As for others, it can take a while to research. From the analysis of G.R.R.M. himself, we can assume the sigils to be just a personal choice.
George R. R. Martin
The answer by @RicoRicochet gives the reasoning for his in that it is a turtle because "Turtles have always been my sigil, I suppose.".
Bryan Cogman
This is allegedly a vomiting maester after Bryan had a bit too much too drink at a wrap party though I'm not sure how true the claim is.
Look closely next to writer Bryan Cogman’s name in the opening credits and you’ll see his ‘House Sigil’ is a vomiting maester. This joke was made by Benioff and Weiss in reference to a wrap party at which he er, overindulged himself, back when he worked as their assistant.
Den of Geek!, 67 Things You Didn't Know About Game of Thrones Season 4
Ramin Djawadi
George's turtle.
Gemma Jackson
George's turtle.
Guymon Casady
George's turtle.
Deborah Riley
George's turtle.
Carolyn Strauss
An ostrich is Strauss in German.
I've seen it noted that the crew got to choose their own sigils for the credits but I haven't actually been able to track down a reliable source for the claim yet though it sounds plausible.
Nina Gold, Robert Sterne
Fleur-de-lis not sure why.
Michele Clapton
Some sort of bird posturing.
Frances Parker A.C.E
I can't really make it out but some sort of cat or a helm looking left.
Kramer Morgenthau A.S.C
What looks to be a hammer.
Vince Gerardis
Some sort of flower.
Alan Taylor
The same as Kramer.
Vanessa Taylor
Appears to be a bird or fish.
Bernadette Caulfield
Triangular symbol, hut?
Frank Doelger
Four stars in a cross.
David Benioff, D.B. Weiss
Appropriately two skulls.
Joe Bauer
A crab.
Steve Kullback
A man holding up the moon?
Crispin Green
Two crossed swords.
Gregory Middleton A.S.C C.S.C
The same as Frances Parker A.C.E.
Lisa McAtackney, Greg Spence
Lisa's is a quill and Greg's is a flying bird.
Chris Newman
Some circular pattern.
