Start designing your flag by following these essential hints and tips:
Hint 1: keep it simple
- The flag should be simple enough for a child to draw from memory
Hint 2: use meaningful symbolism
- Use elements, colours and patterns that relate to what the flag symbolises
Hint 3: use two or three basic colours
- Choose from the standard colour set
- red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, dark blue, purple, black and white
- Choose colours that contrast well
- yellow and white work well on any other colour and vice versa
Hint 4: avoid lettering, seals or coats of arms
- Don’t use lettering of any kind
- Don’t use any organisational badge, seal or coat of arms
- instead use element(s) from a relevant coat of arms as symbols on the flag
Hint 5: be distinctive or be related
- Don’t duplicate other flags
- Do use similarities to show connections
Hint 6: consider the effect of height and wind
- Remember the design must remain visible when flying
- from a high pole
- in high winds, in a breeze and in still conditions
Hint 7: get more detailed guidance
- Find more hints and tips in The Guiding Principles of Flag Design (Flag Institute/NAVA, 2014)
- Free to view or download in PDF here
