What’s in a Flag – Flag Design
What’s in a Flag?
With the recent political changes in its country, Libya joins South Sudan as the second country to hoist a new flag in the last year. South Sudan’s new flag has six colors and is one of only two national flags to have that many colors. Among its features is a gold five-pointed star, which is believed to symbolize its people. The new flag of Libya has added three colors and features a white crescent and a five-pointed star. But what really makes a great flag design?
According to the North American Vexillological Association (people who study these things!), five basic principles make up a great flag:
-Keep it simple
-Use meaningful symbolism
-Use 2-3 basic colors
-No lettering or seals
-Be distinctive or related
So how did South Sudan and Libya do? Capturing the essence of a nation—its values, beliefs, landscape—in the design of a flag is not easy. If you were a vexillographer, what would your flag look like? Let us know what you think.