City Flag

[krisb]

https://www.ted.com/talks/roman_mars...ed?language=en

I just watched this TED talk on city flags. The video shows examples of good and bad design. I love this statement about the value and importance of city flags, "The marriage of good design and civic pride is something that we need in all places. The best part about municipal flags is that we own them. They are an open-source, publicly owned design language of the community. When they are done well, they are remixable, adaptable, and they are powerful. We could control the branding and graphical imagery of our cities with a good flag, but instead, by having bad flags we don't use, we cede that territory to sports teams and chambers of commerce and tourism boards. Sports teams can leave and break our hearts. And besides, some of us don't really care about sports. And tourism campaigns can just be cheesy. But a great city flag is something that represents a city to its people and its people to the world at large."

Based on the following criteria, Oklahoma City's flag is considered bad:

1. Keep It Simple (The flag should be so simple that a child can draw it from memory)

2. Use Meaningful Symbolism (The flag's images, colors, or patterns should relate to what it symbolizes)

3. Use 2-3 Basic Colors (Limit the number of colors on the flag to three, which contrast well and come from the standard color set)

4. No Lettering or Seals (Never use writing of any kind or an organization's seal)

5. Be Distinctive or Be Related (Avoid duplicating other flags, but use similarities to show connections)


Chicago


DC


Amsterdam


Oklahoma City

Let's start a movement to change our city flag into something we can proudly display everywhere.

[ljbab728]

Does OKC have an official flag or is that just the city seal?

[krisb]

The flag is the seal in the middle of a white square as shown above. Pretty lame and not considered good flag design. I have only seen it displayed in front of City Hall.

[ljbab728]

OK. If they want to improve it, I have no problem with that. I also have little reason to be concerned about leaving it just as it is. I don't think it has any significant affect on anything important to do with the city.

[Just the facts]

After reading an article in the Oklahoman about this last year I designed a City flag. I'll post it later tonight.

[d-usa]

A good design (IMO) that I have seen was also used by the Energy FC supporters in one of their tifos:

[Celebrator]

I actually like that as our city flag. What does the blue and green symbolize?

[hoya]

I actually like that as our city flag. What does the blue and green symbolize?

Team colors.

[Celebrator]

I have actually collected city flags in my travels. They are popular points of civic pride in Europe especially (where many of these cities were once independent city-states, etc. and have long histories with particular heraldry and symbology). They are usually inexpensive and easy to pack and are more meaningful souvenirs. I bought this one about 15 years ago in Berlin:


And that standing bear has become a city icon appearing everywhere...like on the side of its subway cars.

It is the symbol of Berlin (instead of the WALL!)

I love that flags can tell a city's story in ONE visual symbol. The hard part is coming up with the elements of design that simply, interestingly, and accurately represent a city's identity.

Here are some that I think are particularly effective in the U.S. (with a focus on examples from the region):
Wichita has a nice one!

Dallas is pretty good. A bit busy in the middle.

Denver's is excellent, I think. It ties in with the CO state flag and follows some of the other design rules listed above. This is the type of flag design that a city can really take advantage of in branding.

Phoenix is pretty good. Not sure the color choice really represents the desert SW, but the tie-in with the name is cool.

ABQ's is almost right on. Lose the city name at the bottom and you have a winner I think.

And lastly,...ever wonder why Pittsburgh's teams are black and gold? I LOVE that they city's teams borrowed from the city flag and decided that black and yellow means Pittsburgh. Cool unifying element for the city.


I love this stuff, I could go on and on. I just think it is so interesting to try and make a statement about a huge subject in such a concise way as flags require. Fascinating. Can't wait to watch the TED talk posted above.

[krisb]

Most city flags are poorly designed and not a source of civic pride, therefore, they are rarely displayed. Amsterdam and Chicago display theirs proudly. When an officer dies in Chicago there casket is draped with the city flag, not the American flag. As the video suggests, sports teams come and go, tourism marketing campaigns come and go. How about something more enduring as a brand for the city?

[krisb]

After reading an article in the Oklahoman about this last year I designed a City flag. I'll post it later tonight.

That's great. Can you post a link to the article as well?

[bradh]

Love the logo for the city of Phoenix, it's great. I have always loved Chicago's flag.

[Celebrator]

Team colors.

Right. But if it is a city flag possibility, they will have to stand for something that applies to the city, not just the colors of the Energy.

[krisb]

A good design (IMO) that I have seen was also used by the Energy FC supporters in one of their tifos:

Wow, perhaps that's our new city flag. It says so much right there.

[krisb]

Here is the article Just the facts was referring to: Oklahoma City's Mayor Cornett wants to display flag offerings | News OK

Has there been any follow-up to this?

[AP]

I actually really love that tifo design as the flag.

[OkiePoke]

A good design (IMO) that I have seen was also used by the Energy FC supporters in one of their tifos:

I see it as blue skies and green grass with the Memorial Tree.

[Zuplar]

I remember reading this article last year, and if I remember right a lot of FB comments of people wanting it left alone. Was surprised by that. I'd like to see it changed for sure. I have always liked DC's flag cause it's plain and simple. I guess I never realized the one was Denver's although I know I've seen it when I was in town. I like it as well.

[sooner88]

I remember reading this article last year, and if I remember right a lot of FB comments of people wanting it left alone. Was surprised by that. I'd like to see it changed for sure. I have always liked DC's flag cause it's plain and simple. I guess I never realized the one was Denver's although I know I've seen it when I was in town. I like it as well.

Denver also uses the same colors as the Colorado flag. The design is completely different, but there is still a connection.

[Zuplar]

Colorado's flag is awesome, easily one of my favorites. I feel like it's fairly recognizable as well. Something to think about is that Oklahoma's flag doesn't necessarily fit the criteria of a great flag, although I think it's close. Maybe remove the name and enhance the Choctaw shield and simplify it.

[Martin]

Something to think about is that Oklahoma's flag doesn't necessarily fit the criteria of a great flag, although I think it's close. Maybe remove the name and enhance the Choctaw shield and simplify it.

funny thing is, the current flag design didn't originally have the state name on it... just the shield and blue field. not that i have any problems with the current design, but i kind of like our original state flag better than the current one. -M

[bradh]

Colorado's flag is awesome, easily one of my favorites. I feel like it's fairly recognizable as well. Something to think about is that Oklahoma's flag doesn't necessarily fit the criteria of a great flag, although I think it's close. Maybe remove the name and enhance the Choctaw shield and simplify it.

Colorado is nice, but the Arizona flag is great

[bradh]

I actually like that as our city flag. What does the blue and green symbolize?

team colors yes, but they actually say they drew some inspiration from the state flag

[Zuplar]

Colorado is nice, but the Arizona flag is great

I do like Arizona's, probably my second favorite.

[sooner88]

team colors yes, but they actually say they drew some inspiration from the state flag

I wonder what it would look like with the light blue instead of the dark? It may washout the tree as is.