Flag Institute adopts new flag and emblem

On 18 November 2016, the Flag Institute Council, meeting in Birmingham, formally adopted a new flag and emblem.

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The former Flag Institute emblem

Designed in 1971 by the former Director of the Flag Institute, the late Dr William Crampton, the previous flag and emblem commemorated the Institute’s founding date, 23 April 1971 (St George’s Day), and incorporated a ‘V’ shape to represent vexillology.

In the intervening years, when the Flag Institute has grown from a small group of flag enthusiasts into a much larger organisation with a UK-wide remit, the emphasis on the St George’s Cross, the emblem of England, has become increasingly inappropriate. So a year ago it was decided to create a new flag and logo, representing the Institute’s role throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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The new Flag Institute emblem

The design, as adopted at the Council Meeting, is based on the lower quarter of the Union Flag, in a stylised representation that expresses forward movement.

It was designed by the Chief Vexillologist, Graham Bartram, and the Communities Vexillologist, Philip Tibbetts.

You will see the new logo in use on this website. During the initial transition period, however, materials might bear either the old or new emblem until old stocks are exhausted.

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8 Responses to Flag Institute adopts new flag and emblem

  1. John Yates 24 November 2016 at 9:15 pm #

    Oh dear! It looks all wrong! Should have used the fourth quarter and not the third!
    I have already turned down a design like this on the advice by a senior F I member

    • Arlo James Barnes 29 November 2016 at 5:46 pm #

      What is preferrable about the fourth quarter?

      It seems the intention here was to have also a red arrow pointing to the upper right (or upper left if seen from the other side of the flag, I suppose; upper flyward, perhaps?) to signify “forward movement” (in the sense of progress).

  2. Gus Harris-Reid 9 December 2016 at 10:17 pm #

    Did anyone actually complain about this? If they’re going to object to the St George’s Cross being prominent the Flag Institute’s emblem, they’re going to object to it being prominent in the Union Flag itself.

    The way it’s used in the old emblem/flag is more of a nordic cross anyway.

    The new emblem’s ok as a logo, but it won’t work as a flag if it’s stylised like that. I’m sure you’re all aware of the guidelines for good flag design (e.g. simple geometric shapes, easy to draw from memory).

    Please keep the old flag, at least as an official symbol if not as the Institute’s logo!

    • Gus Harris-Reid 9 December 2016 at 10:52 pm #

      I think the old flag is a great design; It’s unique, is already reminiscent of the Union Flag in terms of colours and shapes, and has a story behind it.

  3. taadams@tiscali.co.uk 30 December 2016 at 9:07 pm #

    Gentlemen, I was not a supporter of the need to change the Institute’s emblem and flag, however, if it was to change then I was hoping for something innovative. Whilst I am a stanch supporter of the Union Flag, I regret to say you have not met my vexillological expectations.

  4. ChrisS 16 January 2017 at 2:58 pm #

    It now looks more emblematic of Britain than of flags. Much like the BNP, NF logos

  5. Pete Loeser 2 March 2017 at 5:20 pm #

    Being a firm believer of “if it is not broken, don’t fix it” I must say that I always admired the flag design of Dr. William Crampton. It’s a clean design and instantly recognizable at a distance, displaying all the requirements of a good flag design. I don’t feel like the “new improved” design does any of those things, and like many of the new generation of artistic flag designs it is another abstract attempt at to improve something that didn’t need improvement. Like the people of New Zealand recently loudly proclaimed, don’t mess with tradition. By-the-way, was there any vote or polling of the whole membership on this “improvement?” I’d be curious about the results.

  6. Stephen Masaki 28 May 2017 at 1:24 am #

    I realize some of the comments discrediting the newly designed emblem are mostly the very experienced and senior vexillologist, vexillographer, vexillophile or experts in heraldic matters. In that, they are mostly familiar with the pedigree and laid traditions in regard to this Honourable fields. Well, its the spirit rather than the law that matters. The new emblem is very progressive to say the least, and it shall sere a whole different generation of audience and hence appears to embrace a rather simplified value as it courageously points to the future beyond what we are used to…..and I like the institutes new found attitude.
    Bravo!!!