Poll + vexillology basics
Recently I made a poll over on my twitter (which you should totally follow btw) on what is the most important "part of a flag". In that poll I assumed that the symbology and meaning, and use of the flag were the most important things, and I am going to do the same thing here.
What is the most important part of a flag?
The colours
The elements on the flag
Voting ended onJul 5, 2023
A reblog would be appreciated to reach more people.
And as a bonus, i'll take a detour to talk a bit about what vexillologists call the "5 basic principles of flag design". This list of "requirements" for a flag to be generally regarded as good was first introduced by Portland vexillologist and vexillological messiah Ted Kaye in his booklet "Good Flag, Bad Flag" (PDF available in multiple languages at: https://portlandflag.org/good-flag-bad-flag/).
The 5 principles (or commandments, as I like to call them, because so many people seem to take treat them as such) are:
Keep it simple: The flag should be so simple that a child can
draw it from memory. [Note: This example of the child being able to draw the flag is used as a sort of test to check weather a certain new flag fits this rule or not.]
Use meaningful symbolism: The flag’s images, colours, or patterns should relate to what it symbolises. [Note: Self-evident]
Use 2-3 basic colours: Limit the number of colours on the flag to three, which contrast well and come from the standard color set. [Note: The "standard colour set", for those who were bad at arts in school like me, I belive refer to the colours red, yellow and blue, from which all the other colours derive from]
No Lettering or Seals: Never use writing of any kind or an organisation’s seal. [Note: This is one of the most cited principles of vexillology, mostly used as a strong argument for the redesign of municipal or state flags in the US, as the frightening majority break this rule]
Be distinctive or be related: Avoid duplicating other flags, but use similarities to show connections. [Note: Except when two flags are TOO similar to each other that they become unsditinguishable! Another notable test to check for this rule, as well as for rule no. 3 is to run the flag on greyscale, and see if next to a similar flag is still recognisable (many Arabic and African nations justly fail this test)]
Before I leave though, I want to bring attention to two other "lists" if you could call them that, that in their time tried to achieve what GF,BF (short for Good Flag, Bad Flag) did. For example: "The guiding principles of flag design", a collaboration between NAVA and the FI.
And as if it were a window to another time, "Good flag designing", made all the way back in 1969 and published by the very first vexillological association, the Flag Research Centre. It's cool to see what at that time they thought was most important.
And finally, I invite you to read "Modern Flag Design", an expansion to Good Flag, Bad Flag, also freely available at: https://flagdesignbook.com/.
