In 2009 I set out to standardise the flags of Australia, based on the split pale designs of the ACT and NT flags [link]. The idea of standardising flags was reasonably well received though comments on the flags themselves were varied. I wanted to continue in a similar vein but with a different emphasis placed on national identities.
The Australian national flag has been a periodic topic for debate, hotly by the flag obsessed and not so much by others, usually surfacing around Australia Day. There are plenty of proposed designs, some would make for a good flag while others would not. When it comes to design, everyone has their own opinion and this only helps to muddy the issue.
My design, 2009
My last iteration of the national flag was based on the “Australian Pale” used by the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory designs. In retrospect I feel that I took the easy route by merging elements of the current flag with the structure of the territory designs. Other than that, the colours were picked because I wanted them to work together, not necessarily because they do work together. The blue pale bleeds into the green field and there is a lack of bold contrast in general.
There’s more than one way to skin a cat when creating a distinctive design. Below are a few solid examples of how flags set themselves apart from others:
A country that pulls off the green and gold by heavily offsetting them with black. The structure, although common, stands out amongst others as a result of its colours.
Uses cultural iconography and its distinctive written language as design elements, it could only possibly represent one of the two Koreas. The red touching blue breaks the heraldic contrast rule but it works very well.
Another country whose flag structure is common, though they set themselves apart from others with unique colours, particularly the brilliant shade of blue. The three colours together are perfect for a Baltic state, and some suggest that the flag is derived from a winter skyline [link].
As simple as they get but no one mistakes them for anyone else, the rising sun design also has significant meaning to the Japanese national identity, history and mythology.
The flag is as simplistic as Japan’s and just as distinctive, in addition to the odd dimensions. Several international companies use the Swiss cross as a signifier of quality and craftsmanship.
An unlikely candidate for the focus of a flag but the maple leaf is strongly ingrained into the Canadian identity, its everywhere. The wider middle pale is an interesting variation on a common flag structure.
One of our own flags that is both bold and meaningful. Though similar to Japan’s, the derived meanings are entirely different.
All of these flags are simplistic but bold. Its surprising that most of them use common colours, particularly combinations of red/white/blue, but their applications are far from boring. Jamaica and Estonia use fairly typical designs but apply unusual colour combinations. Many of the flags symbolise the essence of the nation, be it natural, cultural or otherwise.
Based on the above, I set myself these criteria in designing the national flag:
With the criteria in mind, I came up with the following design:
The flag is split into three panels, two horizontal bars overlaid by a pale on the fly end. Its similar in structure to the flag of Texas but flipped horizontally. The structure uses traditional rectangular blocking to achieve an unconventional style. Red and blue horizontal bars depict the sky over a desert landscape, a powerful image synonymous with our red centre. The star in the canton, the federation star, represents our federated nation: past, present and future. It is the primary linkage between the current and proposed flags. The black pale represents the indigenous Australians, who have lived in Australia since prehistory. The dotted vertical border refers to the art of dot painting – an art style seen nowhere else in the world.
The colours feature black, a traditional red, and a vivid blue. Red/blue/black is seldom seen on national flags and, when used with the above structure and elements, makes for a flag that stands out amongst others.
The design focuses heavily on the golden ratio [link], in the dimensions of the flag itself and the placement of elements within it. The basis for the design and actual ratios are demonstrated below:
The elements do not align exactly, but are approximated by simple fractions for ease of manufacturing and reproduction.
I’ve answered some potential questions in advance:
Green and Gold
Yes they are our national colours but:
Southern Cross
Union Jack
Many fought for Australia under the Union Jack. True. But what’s more important than fighting under a flag is fighting for what the country stands for. If the flag does not represent the country correctly, why is it so important to keep fighting under it? Australia no longer fights in servitude of the motherland.
Kangaroo, wattle, boomerang, Rolf Harris (yuck)
Simplicity. I couldn’t and wouldn’t want to fit it all in. The Federation star was a must, it’s the single unifying symbol of all of the flags below. The five dots are as simple an element as possible (and they won’t date like pretty much any other detailed depiction would) and are also a pretty unique element to have on a flag.
The colours are derived from the big chunk of land in the centre of the country, not Britain. I feel that the colours are arranged in a way that sets it apart from British influence but also depicts a large swath of land, characteristic of our nation.
Representing all cultures is not an easy task. Diversity is not a uniquely Australian concept/motive. Spraying colours all over the place is more likely to detract from the national identity rather than strengthen it. There is plenty of opportunity to promote national unity through design.
I included the indigenous elements for two reasons.
The green and gold should not be cast aside simply for not being part of a national flag. Our national colours are most closely associated with national level sport. We’ve seen green and gold sporting flags in the past, particularly the boxing kangaroo. I’ve offered a modest variation of the national flag below:
Like my 2009 post, I set out to standardise state and territory flags. Because I had less time to work on it, I only focused on the six states and ACT/NT. The standardisations are not at strict as the previous set but all flags have the federation star placed in the canton. I’ve tried to portray each state uniquely in simple forms.
Colours: Navy, gold, white
Fly: The name Canberra is supposedly derived from Kambera (meeting place), a suitable name for the city where parliament meets. The ACT flag contains a symbol used to depict a meeting place in Aboriginal art.
Colours: Navy, sky blue, white, red
Fly: Sydney was the first of the British settlements (NSW being the “first state”). A fimbriated St. George’s cross is featured a sky blue field to signify the English roots in the founding of the state.
Colours: Black, orange, white
Fly: Sturt’s desert rose, no need to change anything about it
Colours: Maroon, white
Fly: Maltese cross – there isn’t a real historical link between the cross and Qld but it has come to represent the state at government level.
Colours: Navy, red, gold, white
Fly: A gold sun on a red field. The sun is a drastic simplification of the state seal (piping shrike overlaying the sun) which I feel does not need to be repeated on the flag. The sun over red also reflects the hot and arid conditions that the state endures.
Colours: Green, red, gold, white
Fly: Red and gold vertical bars, a the stripes of a Tasmanian Tiger.
Colours: Navy, white
Fly: A big white V, an established icon of Victoria.
Colours: Black, gold
Fly: A black swan on the water. The horizontal bar is extended to the entire flag length for effect.
Currently, all national and sub-national flags are proportioned based on British ensigns, their heights being half that of their length (1:2). This ratio originates from maritime Britain where longer flags could take advantage of the greater winds at sea, enhancing their visibility in any direction.
I’ve proposed a ratio with shorter length – 5:8, which is more suited to flying on land. The dimensions approximate the golden ratio, which occurs both in nature and art, and is naturally appealing to the eye.
All flags are split vertically, according to this same (5:8) ratio.
I’ve tried to streamline the colours used in each flag for the sake of practicality. All proposed flags use a combination of the following:
State flags have been recoloured from ensign colours to better suit their actual identities.
There are two recurring symbols amongst the flags:
Note: I’m completely expecting these designs to be debated, there’s no one flag that everyone agrees on. Please try to keep the comments civil on this post. I will moderate anything inappropriate or unnecessary.
I’m back to studying starting March so don’t expect any changes to these designs any time soon. I just don’t have the time.
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I really love your bold designs GAZF.
Sorry GAZF, but that Australian flag looks horrible. The black doesn’t mesh with the blue and red, and for mine the flag as a whole doesn’t fit together.
The state flags are more hit and miss. The Victorian flag doesn’t need a big V, it just looks tacky. The WA one, though, is great. Not convinced on the NSW one.
Fair enough. Its an unconventional design and I’d imagine plenty don’t see it as appropriate for a flag.
The NSW and Vic flags were tough to design. The main objective was simplicity so there are several flags with very simple shapes.
OK, I’m going to try to offer a more complete comment and constructive criticism which I hope is helpful in some way.
I love the boldness. It’s a strong design and think it has quite a lot going for it. It’s a complete break from the very common design features of previous ideas I’ve seen yet not radical in terms of flags in general. It succeeds at being formal and distinctive without becoming jingoistic or tacky like other designs that really deserve to be called beach towels rather than flags.
I love the simplicity. I’m right behind you on that, I think flags get ugly when they get too complicated. A flag needs to be seen and instantly recognizable from a distance. And some of the worlds best flags are extremely simple and effective.
I love the colours. I love the vivid colour of blue sky and its totally appropriate for Australia. I’ve never been a fan of dark (Seinfeld’s “Britain by night”) blue. I love the vivid red and of course what they represent.
The Federation Star is of course a great big bold symbol that is uniquely Australian (I could be wrong but I can’t think of anyone else who uses a seven pointed star on their flag), highly representative, and works really well on this flag.
The simple and highly stylized use of the black pale with white dots is bold and eyecatching. But I’m not entirely won over or convinced by it either. It almost looks like a flag that has been holstered in some kind of black leather holster with the dots being like buttons with part of the flag obscured beneath a black sheath. I’d need to see it hoisted on a flag pole and fluttering in the wind before I could decide if it truly works or not.
This flag does work really well without the Southern Cross but I must admit (rightly or wrongly) that I still find myself pining after the Southern Cross and mourning its disappearance at least a little. I appreaciate the argument as to why we don’t need it, but its a heart thing, not a head thing. Even if I agree with your argument that its not peculiarly Autralian and that it’s a terrible design problem and reason with myself that I should let it go, there’s still a slight gnawing emotional resentment at giving it up even if its not a rational one.
The Southern Cross is one of the very few symbols that Australians almost universally seem to love, agree upon, and rally behind. It’s considered iconic, and we are after all the largest Island under that Southern Cross. I definitely appreciate that its hard to design a flag that includes it and still have the freedom to come up with really great and bold new designs that work well. But in the end it may be a national sentiment and emotion that just needs to be respected. No matter how good the flag design is without it, there is a question as to whether Australians will unite behind it.
I think you should definitely stick with focusing heavily on the golden ratio. The dimensions of the flag and the placement of elements within it work very well. And I think a design that follows the golden ratio will result in something easy on the eye which helps the viewer to be more open and receptive to a more complete design change to the flag.
Overall I like it, I think you’re on the right track and at the very least breaking fallow ground and raising the bar in a way that’s very positive. I hope my two cents are useful and encouraging to you as well because I wouldn’t want someone who shows so much flair and potential in their designs to become discouraged. You just might be the person who gives us a new national flag.
Thanks for the comment, I really appreciate the time taken and effort made to provide such deep insight.
I think including it in the flag would mean that the federation star would have to go, which would be a shame since is far simpler and says “Australia” just as much as the cross.
You’ve given me some food for thought though and I’ll have the year to think it over. Thanks again for the feedback.
Heh, that Startrack Express logo is pretty bad. 😛
I’ve been looking at it and pondering it for a day or two now and I think that the black with strongly contrasting white dots is a bit overpowering. I think the elements are essentially well balanced but the sheer ‘weight’ of the black is interfering with the balance you achieved by focusing on the golden ratio.
What if you flipped the whole thing around, literally reversing it, so that you have the black pale at the hoist, and put a white Southern Cross on the black pale? I know the Southern Cross is busy but it might just be busy enough to break up the black just enough for it to balance out a bit? Just a thought…
How about a green, yellow and blue tri-colour defaced with white stars -fed star centralised on the green, and a southern cross on the blue? Retains the main Australian elements (southern cross, fed star) and colours (blue+gold and green+gold). Blue and green separated by gold, so that’s fine.
You could build a family of flags from such a simple design.
When did Tasmania become Catalonia? I preferred your previous set of state flags.
You have no concept of a white and red ensign, and no vice regal flags (head of state, state governors, CDF, Chief of army, navy air force)
I like the thinking with the state flags but I think you’ve missed a trick by using the Fed Star on state flags – it is purely a federal symbol and therefore shouldn’t be used by the states in my mind.
I love that both the existing NT and ACT flags use the Southern Cross within their hoist as it unites the two, and this could carry across to unite every state in the same way. I like the idea of taking the state symbols in the fly from existing flags and using these, rather than a ‘modern’ interpretation. NSW for example would use the lion on the Cross in a white roundel, SA the piping shrike etc etc. Vic might be an issue if we ever become a republic, but the you could argue the crown be retained. I believe this would create a continuity from old to new, to retain heritage but to show movement forward and all that kind of stuff. It does run against the ‘able to be drawn by a five year old’ concept a little though.
So I love the concept overall, just not sure of the execution!
As for the national flag – this is the hardest one! I don’t think anyone will ever come up with a flag that will truly unite us all. Again I like your thinking and the concept and it’s certainly a bold design.
I am actually personally against changing the national flag… but I absolutely love the state and territory flags you had previously proposed (2009).
The southern cross linking all state/territory and unincorporated territories/dependancies is a fantastic way of showing unity through diversity.
I also loved the idea of the Navy/Airforce/MercantNavy/(+Army if you included it) having the federation star in the same design.
I feel these new designs are a step back from what I think your previous designs captured.
This is excellent! Really want to see this standard come in, in some form
Hi Gary, I’m not sure if you’re still reading comments on these pages but I wondered if you’ve considered changing the Queensland state flag from a maltese cross to a stylised Cooktown Orchid as seen in this example: https://932ac239-a-62cb3a1a-s-sites.googlegroups.com/site/ausflags/home/QLD1.png?attachauth=ANoY7coYXg3U0hI3Ss8DbpOLQO94gOVVRgco7VgZcRwQqfMt4ViFpqwlxU13JlIshK3JyYN87bL6p2YxqhhxIbJco67Nzp1tylqJhSiNYMLEeLacpisRi62vkhcc3GqtkGPp2R6QfMS7rAu0sumiyS6ERvS4Ln3mIiPcb9AmJ29AEkHScfEild329Fu6HKSLmx0awGGlA89vVAWXhiDH7MIRtyVia75dSA%3D%3D&attredirects=0
It seems more contemporary and meaningful to me than a maltese cross…
PS: The Cooktown Orchid is the floral emblem of Queensland: http://www.anbg.gov.au/emblems/qld.emblem.html
I like your national flag. The red looks like a hot pink on my screen but frankly that’s the reason it works and stands out. Its not something I would have considered doing myself. I think using solid red, black and white should be avoided as it is often used to depict evil.
ACT: I like the idea of using the Kambera symbol, I just wish the overall effect was prettier like the NT one. Maybe less rigidity and some new colours.
NSW: Bit meh, I wouldnt bother with the St.Georges cross, its historical, but carries a lot of baggage that means nothing to many residents. I’d stick to things unique to the state.
NT: I agree with you, its pretty great as is.
QLD: Its attractive, but like my comment on the NSW flag, Id personally like to see something natural and unique.
SA: Its simple, but not very interesting.
TAS: Stick with the stripes idea, but try it with less rigidity and with more natural and unique colours.
VIC: I’m not opposed to it, maybe try it with an inversion like your QLD flag.
WA: I like it. The swans head could look sharper and not so symmetrical IMO.
how fo you make these? special program?
Hey GAZF, I saw this recently and thought of you. You may have seen it but Roman Mars gave a talk at TED on flag design and i thought you might like it. It’s only just over 18 minutes long: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnv5iKB2hl4
Just watched it on my lunch break. On top of those five guidelines I would suggest that contrast is also important. The guidelines are good for any field of graphic design, really.
He also touches on the point that people don’t care about design until they realise they actually do.
Thanks for the link, it was an entertaining video and he communicated these principles well.
Hey Gary, whenever flag stuff comes up I think of you and I stumbled upon this just a minute ago: http://www.goldenwattleflag.com/press/ I’m not taken by the dark teal/green field but when I realized the stylized golden wattle emblem incorporates the federation star it got my attention. I thought that was actually pretty clever and striking. The more I look at it, the more I like it. I wonder how it would look perhaps on a blue field? The order of Australia medal has long used wattle flowers on a blue background for the ribbons as seen here: http://www.defence.gov.au/Medals/_Master/images/HD/Order-Aust-Group-L.JPG What do you think?
The Sunrise breakfast program is having a poll on Australian flags and to my surprise the golden wattle flag is getting very solid numbers: https://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/#page1 So, you can get support for an Australian flag without the southern cross on it if people like the design. I think that’s encouraging.
I saw the golden wattle design on reddit the other day and was fairly impressed with the idea. Its difficult to create an abstraction of a wattle flower without making it too complex but I think their design gets the idea across. Its great to see something come out that is simple, iconic and meaningful – something we haven’t really had as part of our national identity. And I actually don’t mind the green and gold in this instance, though the blue and gold has better contrast. Maybe a slightly darker green would work.
I’ve seen that southern horizon flag all over the place – the people behind it have been very effective at getting the design out there. I just don’t think it has the timeless qualities of other flag concepts I’ve seen, and has some of the features you’d expect on a commercial product.
I did have an idea for a new flag which I never really got around to having a go at designing. It would consist of a black band taking up a quarter of the flag on the far left, followed by a much thinner blue band. The remainder would be yellow with a green kangaroo silhouette facing right, and a Commonwealth Star with it (though I can’t think where I should put it with the roo). There would also be a Southern Cross in a black band. What do you reckon?