Maine and Vermont

In the case of Vermont and Maine, I came with two similar flags, so I had to decide which of the flags should have the design.

[Current flag]

The Maine flag is considered one of worst state flags in USA: it as a complex coat of arms, many writing and its blue field make it practically identical to many other state flags. I think a good flag could be the one used between 1901 and 1909.

[My proposed flag, based in historic flag]

The flag above is very similar to actual historic flag, but I moved the star to the right, representing Maine localization in the east of country. This flag is very good, but I know a better proposal, made by Jack Expo. Look at it:

[Proposed flag - Design by Jack Expo]

I think that by now the flag is alright. There's also the Maine naval ensign, but I'll explain in a next post the reason I won't choose it. So I come to next state, Vermont.

[Current flag]

The Vermont flag is very similar to Maine flag. Have you ever noticed this? Therefore Vermont flag is bad, too. And the proposed flags to Vermont are often similar to my favorite Maine flag. Many of them are based on the proposal by newvermontflag.com (this isn't their actual URL). I made some small changes to their flag:

[My proposed flag, based on design by newvemontflag.com]

But I see a big issue on it: it's very similar to the Maine flag. But there's always the flag of Green Mountain Boys, isn't there? The stars arrangement varies, but I use the one adopted by the movement Second Vermont Republic.

[Historic flag]

I think I'll keep with it, but, just for curiosity, look at one of my own designs, that could do a good government flag.

[My proposed flag]

This one has elements of two previous flags, and the white disc make it a good option even with the blue background.

What's your opinion about these flags? What should be Maine and Vermont flags? Your comment is very appreciated.

California, Indiana, South Dakota and Wyoming

Now it's time to some simplifications: good ideas that became ill by complexity of under-editing.

[Current flag]
This flag is based on California Republic 1st flag (a worst concept), on the other hand based on California Lone Star flag (very good, but maybe too generic). The current design is a good flag, the only problems are the writings and the excess of "fur". My proposal is this:

[My proposal flag]
The star and the bear are bigger, and maybe it's even better in clothing and pop art, where California flag is commonly seen.

The next is Indiana:

[Current flag - Original design by Paul Hadley]
Although having a dark blue background, as many state flags, its design make it still distinguishable. The big problem on it is the writing; it's easy to solve: just adopt the original Paul Hadley's design, without the word.

[Historic proposed flag - Design by Paul Hadley]

OK, so let's come to the next: South Dakota.

[Current flag]
The flag has many bad points: the state seal, the state name (if counts with the same, it's been written twice) and, even worse, a slogan. At least, it still resembles the better flag used between 1909 and 1992. But it still need to be simplified.

[My proposed flag]
I also increased sun size and changed the colors to better contrast. I must note that there's an official flag proposal, but I think it's good but inexpressive.


The last flag of the post is Wyoming:

[Current flag - Design by Verna Keays and Grace Raymond Hebard]
The design is distinguishable, I'll only remove the seal and increase the size of the bison.

[Proposed flag - Common design]
With this, we end the post.

Your comment is welcome. Please, leave yours!

Note: the bear silhouette was kept in Deposit Photos. It's currently copyrighted.

Hawaii

Now it's time of Hawaii flag to be analyzed.

[Current flag]
I'm sure it's a great flag. Its design is highly recognizable, but still simple. But it carries a great issue: the Union Jack, i.e., the flag of a sovereign country other than USA, moreover in a prominent position.

My proposal is inspired in Hawaii governor flag, that, except for its writing, is a great flag. I altered the number of stars to nine, to match the number of stripes, that has the same symbolism: the number of main islands in Hawaiian archipelago. It's the result:

[My proposed flag]
Now it looks more like an American flag than a British ensign, but I know Hawaiians will never forget their historic relationship with British crown.

Or, if prefer, the same eight-stars arrangement from governor's flag:

[My proposed flag]
By the way, I'm inviting you to know the proposals I made to each one of Hawaiian main islands.

Your comment is welcome! Please, don't forget to follow blog progress.

Georgia and Mississippi

The Southern people have the loving for the Confederate flags, because it represents perfectly the Southern heritage. But the Northern people often see them as racists symbols (by the historic relationship between Confederacy and slavery). Let's try to make nobody unhappy!

Firstly, see the current Georgia flag:

[Current flag]

It's basically the Confederate "first national flag" with Georgia state seal on center. It's not good, but a lot better than horrible previous flag. First problem: it contains a Confederate flag, although this one doesn't carry the same hatred. Second problem: The seal is too complicated to be placed in a flag, and almost impossible of being sewn. My proposal is the flag Georgia used between 1879 and 1902, that remembers the current flag at all.

[Historic flag (1879-1902)]

A lot better, isn't it? Now, I'll try to fix the next flag with a Confederate flag: Mississippi.

[Current flag]

The Confederate battle flag is a different case: their connotations in some parts of US aren't the better, and some people feel seriously offended by it. Moreover, the white fimbriation between the canton and the stripes shows that something is going wrong.

Luckily, I won't need to create a new flag: there's a good unofficial flag, dating from 2000 (little before 2001 Mississippi flag referendum):

[Historic proposed flag]

It doesn't seems Confederate at first sight, but it represents the Southern heritage. It doesn't fit the US national flag (red stripes, blue canton), but it's also represented.

Comments are welcome!

Alaska, Arizona and New Mexico

Not all US state flags are bad, but surely not all are good. Now you can see some flags I kept with none or small change.

[Current flag - Design by Benny Benson]
This flag is unique in USA. Many state flags have a blue field, but the golden constellation makes the Alaskan flag distinguishable even at big distance. It's simple and easy to be drawn or sewn.

[Current flag - Design by Colonel Charles W. Harris and others]
Can you remember any other state flag that resembles this one of Arizona? No? Neither do I. And it's a simple and eye-catching design. The copper color is slightly light than my source, making it more distinguishable from red.

[Current flag - Design by Harry Mera]
According to NAVA poll, the New Mexico is considered the best flag in North America. I can't see any design defect on it. The Zia symbol is involved in a small polemic, because it's considered holy by some Native people. I hope it to be solved peacefully, but, in other case, I think any stylized sun symbol could be used without big loss.

Comments are welcome!

Presentation

Hello, my name is Leonardo. I have two other blogs about flags (Create/Recreate and Flag Review), and I decided to create a set of flags to the USA states. It was originally intended to be posted on Create/Recreate, but, because the size it took, I decided to post in an alternate flag. Initially, I will analyze, and create a new flag if necessary, to every American state and the District of Columbia.

If you aren't familiarized to vexillography (design of flags), here we'll see six advices. The first five are used by NAVA (North American Vexillological Association) and Flag Institute (UK), the sixth only by the Flag Institute:

1. Keep it simple: The flag should be simple enough that a child can draw it from memory.
2. Use meaningful symbolism: The flag's elements, colors, or patterns should relate to what it symbolizes.
3. Use two to three basic colors: Limit the number of colors on the flag to three, which contrast well and come from the standard color set: red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, dark blue, purple, black and white. Yellow and white work well on any of the other colors and vice versa.
4. No lettering or seals: Avoid the use of writing of any kind or an organisation’s badge, seal or coat of arms. It is better to use elements from an appropriate coat of arms as symbols on the flag.
5. Be distinctive or be related: Avoid duplicating other flags, but use similarities to show connections.
6. How will it fly in the wind?: Remember, the design must be distinctive when flying on a high pole in a strong wind, and when hanging in windless conditions too. Also remember that it will almost always have ripples caused by the wind.

As I said, they're recommendations, not laws. Eventually, one of them can be ignored without compromising the result, but more than this can cause serious problems. Reading to this you can imagine problems in many state flags, can't you?

By the way, this is the precedence rule I'll use to the flags:

1. If the flag is already good, I'll use it. Many of them won't have this lucky.
2. Else, a historic good flag is the next.
3. In third case, an old or contemporary proposed flag.
4. If none of these criteria were filled, I'll come with a design by myself, being based on the same order: current flag, historic flag, old or contemporary proposed flag, state insignias.

The designs were done and more or less confirmed, so if I found time I'll be posting them.