Jump to content

State Flag Concepts (PA, NJ, VI Added, Project Complete!)


BigRed618

Recommended Posts

After seeing Ed Mitchel's interesting attempt at redesigning the States' flags, I was inspired to make an attempt of my own. Right now I'm just making a new flag for my home state, Illinois, the one in the most need of a new flag, imo. I might make more later on.

Anyway, here's what our flag looks like now...

gndz.png

I like how it's mostly white, as opposed to blue, which is far more common, but other than that, between the state seal and the name below, well, I just think we can do better. I want a flag to be proud of, like the anchor on Rhode Island's flag, or the Lone Star of Texas. Ultimately, this is what I came up with...

r7y0.png

The stars in the chevron are reminiscent of the state's famous centennial flag. There are 21 in all, the big white one representing Illinois itself, 21st state to join the Union. The colors to the left is also meant to be representative of the Land of Lincoln, but in a different sense. Illinois can be divided into three regions. The north side of the state is known to be heavily urbanized, with three of its largest cities located there. We are also bordered with one of the Great Lakes here. This is what the blue represents. The gold represents the central region, a more rural area characterized by mostly prarie and farmland. The black stands for southern Illinois, known for its wealth of natural resources, such as coal and small-scale oil deposits.

I could use some help on where to go from here. I like this so far, but I don't think it's perfect. One thing I'm thinking of trying is getting rid of the chevron altogether and making this an old-fashioned tricolor.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 47
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Creative color palette you chose. Do blue and orange have any statehood identity other than the University of Illinois? I understand that the Bears took their colors as a respect for the university, but just wondering if it would look better with orange instead of gold. Not crazy about the chevron, seems busy. I'm wondering if you made the entire background of the chevron blue, with all the stars white and just extend the line out to the edges keeping the same width. Either way its better than the current one. Look forward to any updates and/or other states you may (and should) decide to tackle.

spacer.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Something about three big bars like that says "country" to me, not "state". I like the chevron idea, but having 21 stars for the 21st state seems a little backwards to me. I'm not sure if I'm verbalizing this idea well, but this way the 21 stars represent something about other states, and not just about Illinois. What about a blue chevron for Lake Michigan with a white bar for Chicago's "white city"?

Also, this may be a dumb question, but are the blues the same in the two versions? I know that having certain colors next to each other changes the way we perceive them, but it is still surprising. The blue in the chevron-ed flag looks a lot darker to me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Something about three big bars like that says "country" to me, not "state". I like the chevron idea, but having 21 stars for the 21st state seems a little backwards to me. I'm not sure if I'm verbalizing this idea well, but this way the 21 stars represent something about other states, and not just about Illinois. What about a blue chevron for Lake Michigan with a white bar for Chicago's "white city"?

Also, this may be a dumb question, but are the blues the same in the two versions? I know that having certain colors next to each other changes the way we perceive them, but it is still surprising. The blue in the chevron-ed flag looks a lot darker to me.

I lightened the blue in the second version. I forgot to mention that. Anyway, I'll get back to Illinois later, now I have a concept for our neighbors to the west, Missouri!

Here's the flag they have now...

uwk.gif

I'd say the best thing this one has going for it is with its color arrangement, it would be hard to mistake Missouri's flag for that of another state. Still, here's my best shot at updating it...

qgvz.png

The symbols were taken from the shield in the state seal. The crescent was meant to represent the state itself at the time the seal was first designed, a small state in population and wealth which would increase like the waxing moon. In heraldry, the moon also denotes a second son. Missouri was the second state to be formed from the Louisiana Territory. The grizzly bear is an important state symbol, representing strength and bravery. The white wavy bar represents the Missouri River, which the state was named after. The bar cuts through the middle of the flag the way the river itself cuts through the middle of the state.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Seems like a flag for one of the "-istans"... some Russian influence (bear) with the Muslim crescent moon. 'Muricans like straight lines in their flags; none of this lily-livered wavy stuff. And the waxing moon always has the shadowy part to the East.

Try a realistic crescent moon to make a distinction.

167px-Crescent.svg.png

versus

167px-Gibbous-Crescent-half-ellipse-in-c

Link to comment
Share on other sites

First, an update on Missouri...

3kur.png

I changed the crescent so it has less of a Muslim implication, but I'm not sure what to do with anything else...

IOWA

Current Flag

rxk.gif

Concept Flag

s06b.png

I made both sides blue to represent the two rivers that make up the entire Eastern and Western borders of the Hawkeye State. I also wanted a new symbol to put in the center. The oak is Iowa's state tree, so I thought the acorn would look good.

NORTH DAKOTA

Current Flag

5dq.gif

Concept Flag

qk0r.png

Needless to say, I had to completely overhaul the banner for the Sioux State. The state's name beneath what is essentially USA's coat of arms was not working, but luckily the have another, relatively unused symbol that proved very useful...

0vpk.gif
These arms were drawn up in the 1950s by and were meant to be used on a possible new flag design. The colors yellow and green are indicative of the great agricultural state with particular reference to wheat, their most popular grain, and the abundant grazing area. The three stars celebrate democracy, denoting the three branches of the state government: executive, legislative, and judicial. They also allude to the history of the territory under three flags. The fleur-de-lis represents the French influence and the history of the territory as part of the Louisiana Purchase.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Current Flag
l2gv.gif
Concept Flag
njlt.png
Based on another flag idea for SD I've seen a while back. I just made a few personal adjustments. The state seal is replaced with a medicine wheel, an important Native American symbol. The wheel also makes a stylized "Sd" lockup.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

WEST VIRGINIA

Current Flag

2fp.gif

Concept Flag

ut6k.png

The mountains represent the Appalachian Mountains the state is known for. It also goes with their motto, Mountaineers Are Always Free. Blue and gold are the state's official colors, and the slant line on the mountains helps turn them into a stylized WV.

VIRGINIA

Current Flag

er3t.gif

Concept Flag

g96.png

This is sort of a simplified version of their seal. The sword represents Lady Virtus, piercing the inverted crown of Tyranny. The motto surrounds the logo with a cool, Roman-style font.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

LOVE your concepts there...most of 'em would look SO badass if they were ever officially adopted.

Wonder what you got in store next? (I've always liked my home state's flag, but I REALLY wish they'd get rid of the redundant "WISCONSIN 1848" text above and below it).

bYhYmxh.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

LOVE your concepts there...most of 'em would look SO badass if they were ever officially adopted.

Wonder what you got in store next? (I've always liked my home state's flag, but I REALLY wish they'd get rid of the redundant "WISCONSIN 1848" text above and below it).

The WISCONSIN 1848 is the only thing that differentiates it from about 15 other state flags. We need a new flag in the worst way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Virginia flag is wonderful but I'd change the color to a more deeper burgundy. The color the flag is now is kinda purpleish, which would be alright in most cases, but purple is the color of royalty, and "Sic Semper Tyrannis" was chosen as a call to end the tyranny of British royalty.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

FLORIDA

Current Flag

uu9.gif

Concept Flag

p2d8.png

When Florida adopted their first flag in 1868, it was just the state seal against a white background. In 1900, the St. Andy's cross was added so the flag wouldn't look like a flag of truce or surrender when it hangs limp on the pole. They say the cross also echoes the one on the Confederate flag. I decided to remove that connotation by changing the cross into the Cross of Burgundy, to honor the Sunshine State's Spanish roots. The diamond in the center is a simplified version of its seal, showing only the rising sun, reflecting the state's nickname.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here comes a big update. First, an update on Virginia...

je60.png

I just deepened up the colors a bit, as someone suggested.

IDAHO

Current Flag

7do.gif

Concept Flag

e7rx.png

Between the blue background, the seal, and the state name underneath, as far as flags go, Idaho is certainly one of the bad ones. I figured the Gem State deserved better. They needed a symbol. The round thing is a four-ray star garnet, a rare stone that has a purplish color. It was declared Idaho's state gem in the '60s, and it represents the wide variety of precious minerals and stones found in Idaho's mountains.

NEVADA

Current Flag

r8j.gif

Concept Flag

ispn.png

The flag is predominantly white, representing silver, which was an important mineral in the state's early history. Nevada is nicknamed the Silver State, and silver is considered the state metal. The blue shapes are the stylized letters "NV," Nevada's postal code.

OKLAHOMA

Current Flag

i3y.gif

Concept Flag

akfn.png

Like Mitchell's concept, my Oklahoma flag is a celebration of two different peoples coexisting together.

NORTH CAROLINA

Current Flag

skzz.gif

Concept Flag

9pai.png

Based on a flag NC flew in its colonial days. I also changed the size of the star and the positioning of the letters, mainly to differentiate NC's flag from Texas'.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.




×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.