Flag advice super thread

[Oceanian Empire]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingsoc#/media/File:Ingsoc_logo_from_1984.svg

hello can you enlarge my flag for me

[Astoriya]

To those of you who haven't seen me, I am a nation whose flag has been almost universally hated since I've joined this game.

My current flag, I designed a few days ago. I thought thus would be the one that finally changed people's minds, but nope. Everyone still hates it, for the most part.

I've watched so many videos and read so many books about vexillology, and its history and design principles. In my mind, I seem to be in accordance with everything that makes a good flag with my current one - simplicity, uniqueness, meaningful symbolism, keeping symbols either in the center or the canton - yet all I ever get is hate.

Is it the colors I use?!

What am I doing wrong? How do I fix it? Does anyone have anything specific in mind?

For reference or suggestion, all the previous flags of mine can be seen here: https://www.nationstates.net/nation=agu ... id=1066145 .

(The first flag that was actually my banner since I joined NS is the third one; I made the first 2 to fit in with my nation's history)

I'll be honest - the colours really don't work well together, as they clash too much together
As for the present flag, I think it's the "curl" aspect of it that puts people off
And lastly, in the previous flags, there's far too much going on - diamond crosses everywhere, and the hummingbird's black colour is visually jarring.
My advice is that you make your flag simple - but not too simple that it gets boring

Here's something that you could use:

(you can replace the bird in the centre with your own, if you want)

[Sunrisia]

Here's a quick mock-up. It looks good to me, but obviously you are the one who know what suits your nation.

(Image)

Thank you so much for your work. I'll consider it

[Aguaria Major]

To those of you who haven't seen me, I am a nation whose flag has been almost universally hated since I've joined this game.

My current flag, I designed a few days ago. I thought thus would be the one that finally changed people's minds, but nope. Everyone still hates it, for the most part.

I've watched so many videos and read so many books about vexillology, and its history and design principles. In my mind, I seem to be in accordance with everything that makes a good flag with my current one - simplicity, uniqueness, meaningful symbolism, keeping symbols either in the center or the canton - yet all I ever get is hate.

Is it the colors I use?!

What am I doing wrong? How do I fix it? Does anyone have anything specific in mind?

For reference or suggestion, all the previous flags of mine can be seen here: https://www.nationstates.net/nation=agu ... id=1066145 .

(The first flag that was actually my banner since I joined NS is the third one; I made the first 2 to fit in with my nation's history)

I'll be honest - the colours really don't work well together, as they clash too much together
As for the present flag, I think it's the "curl" aspect of it that puts people off
And lastly, in the previous flags, there's far too much going on - diamond crosses everywhere, and the hummingbird's black colour is visually jarring.
My advice is that you make your flag simple - but not too simple that it gets boring

Here's something that you could use:

(you can replace the bird in the centre with your own, if you want)

I do not like to use white. It has a spiritual connotation, and is also the color of surrender. My nation is secular, and it is strong. So no white. I also think it's an ugly color in general. So instead of the black bird, I tried this based on your suggestion.

Better?

[Astoriya]

I'll be honest - the colours really don't work well together, as they clash too much together
As for the present flag, I think it's the "curl" aspect of it that puts people off
And lastly, in the previous flags, there's far too much going on - diamond crosses everywhere, and the hummingbird's black colour is visually jarring.
My advice is that you make your flag simple - but not too simple that it gets boring

Here's something that you could use:

(you can replace the bird in the centre with your own, if you want)

I do not like to use white. It has a spiritual connotation, and is also the color of surrender. My nation is secular, and it is strong. So no white. I also think it's an ugly color in general. So instead of the black bird, I tried this based on your suggestion.

Better?

Actually, the colour white represents peace & light, but hey, you do you (eg. I always include the colour white in my flags for those reasons, and Astoria's still secular)

Though, I think that if you want to include that symbol, you will need to explain exactly what it is, and what it's supposed to represent - as I couldn't find any info on it in your factbook

[Aguaria Major]

I do not like to use white. It has a spiritual connotation, and is also the color of surrender. My nation is secular, and it is strong. So no white. I also think it's an ugly color in general. So instead of the black bird, I tried this based on your suggestion.

Better?

Actually, the colour white represents peace & light, but hey, you do you (eg. I always include the colour white in my flags for those reasons, and Astoria's still secular)

Though, I think that if you want to include that symbol, you will need to explain exactly what it is, and what it's supposed to represent - as I couldn't find any info on it in your factbook

Peace?! I rule the waves with my fleet, and the sky with my bombers! Our nation is always one of constant change, always striving to innovate and be on top, working twice as hard against a capitalist world, since they outnumber us! There is no room for white in Aguaria Major! But I'm just curious: what does black, the opposite of white, represent, then?

For what the cross/star represents: https://www.nationstates.net/nation=agu ... id=1064393

So, just one more question: with the darker tones on my flag as you see it now, does this work better?

If it were a choice between this one, the spoiler from above, or the spoiler with darker colors, which would be the winner?

[Astoriya]

Actually, the colour white represents peace & light, but hey, you do you (eg. I always include the colour white in my flags for those reasons, and Astoria's still secular)

Though, I think that if you want to include that symbol, you will need to explain exactly what it is, and what it's supposed to represent - as I couldn't find any info on it in your factbook

Peace?! I rule the waves with my fleet, and the sky with my bombers! Our nation is always one of constant change, always striving to innovate and be on top, working twice as hard against a capitalist world, since they outnumber us! There is no room for white in Aguaria Major! But I'm just curious: what does black, the opposite of white, represent, then?

For what the cross/star represents: https://www.nationstates.net/nation=agu ... id=1064393

So, just one more question: with the darker tones on my flag as you see it now, does this work better?

If it were a choice between this one, the spoiler from above, or the spoiler with darker colors, which would be the winner?

IIRC black represents power, fear, mystery, authority, formality, death, evil, and aggression, and also aggression rebellion
you can look around - many dictatorships here on NS use the colour black
but wdym by

this one, the spoiler from above, or the spoiler with darker colours

[Aguaria Major]

What I mean:

Which is best?

This one -

,

this one -

,

or this one -

??

Also, if black is about power, that's what I want to project!!!! (In case you've noticed, I'm not a very peaceful guy, and I'd like to think of my nation as a world power)

[Astoriya]

The third one - the colours are darker & sharper

[Almonaster Nuevo]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingsoc#/media/File:Ingsoc_logo_from_1984.svg

hello can you enlarge my flag for me

1) This thread is for advice. Flag request go here

2) That design has been used previously by another nation. I would suggest trying for something original.

[Silverblade]

any thoughts on my flag?

[Yawehs Chosen Peoples]

Any thoughts on this flag or should I get a new flag. Just made this one but not sure whether its a keeper

[Almonaster Nuevo]

any thoughts on my flag?

Reasonably clean and distinctive. I'd keep it, or try to simplify just a little.

[Almonaster Nuevo]

Any thoughts on this flag or should I get a new flag. Just made this one but not sure whether its a keeper

The Star + cross thing could work, but the background is far too cluttered. Just a plain colour backdrop would be much better IMHO.

[Yawehs Chosen Peoples]

finally settled on this flag kind of found it online and kind of made it but i like it and i made it so.

[Almonaster Nuevo]

Definitely an improvement.

[West Mattasia]

Black borders around the flag elements (https://i.imgur.com/9dKLM1j.png) or not (https://i.imgur.com/Fx9FiiZ.png)?

I think the borders make the shapes more readable from far away and add depth, but perhaps they're also not very flaggish.

[Almonaster Nuevo]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fimbriation

In your case I think there is sufficient contrast without, particularly if you were to use a darker grey.

[Catsfern]

So this is my first time really getting advice but I've been making flags for all the different branches of my nations armed forces and I was wondering what you all thought of my flag for the armored divisions (or as I like to call them "Lanced Divisions") https://i.postimg.cc/pLpCJnWq/Catsfernianlancerunitsflag.png

[Almonaster Nuevo]

So this is my first time really getting advice but I've been making flags for all the different branches of my nations armed forces and I was wondering what you all thought of my flag for the armored divisions (or as I like to call them "Lanced Divisions") https://i.postimg.cc/pLpCJnWq/Catsfernianlancerunitsflag.png

Yeuch! Far too busy. You need to lose at least half of the elements.

[Ceruleus]

How do I make my flag better, if at all?

I'm looking for either improvements that can be made to this one, or, if a new one is designed,

Things I'm trying to include:

1. Anything that gives a South-polar-region vibe
2. Three of something, to represent the 3 Antarctic islands that make up my nation
3. A way to somehow incorporate a symbol reminiscent of a letter "C" for "Ceruleus"

NOTE: I only work in blue, hence my nation's name.

[Almonaster Nuevo]

I would say your current design fills your objectives well.

A few suggestions:

Increase the contrast, so the light blue is nearly white, and the dark blue nearly black.

Make the moon properly circular.

Switch the mid and dark blue, so you have a "night sky" backdrop with 3 mid-blue stripes. The stripes could move a little to the left.

The Southern cross can then be moved clear of the moon, and the moon reduced to just the crescent.

[Raccoon Creek]

At present my flag is based off the flag of the State of California. Though I have no issues with the design, I keep asking myself if it would be more fitting to have the red bar at the bottom be 'wavy' or in a 'wave-pattern'. A 'wave-pattern' in my mind would be reflective of the name of my nation. I could use a second opinion on the matter, thoughts?

[Almonaster Nuevo]

Blue and white "wavy" stripes are indeed a heraldic symbol for water. Whether they look good is more of a matter for your personal taste. I think I would go for it.

I would also suggest that you simplify generally. Writing does not belong on flags, and I don't think the star or grass are adding anything meaningful. Just the raccoon and waves would be best IMHO.

[Raccoon Creek]

Blue and white "wavy" stripes are indeed a heraldic symbol for water. Whether they look good is more of a matter for your personal taste. I think I would go for it.

I would also suggest that you simplify generally. Writing does not belong on flags, and I don't think the star or grass are adding anything meaningful. Just the raccoon and waves would be best IMHO.

I was going to try out red and white "wavy" stripes as the colors are the national colors of Raccoon Creek. I'm a little picky when it comes to the use of blue but a "wavy" line is well recognized as water regardless of the colors used.

Normally I would tend to agree with in regards of simplicity, but I don't think that would be necessary. I usually use the "can a child draw it" rule as my guide for flag design and in this instance the design is just "simple" enough to be not be "complex".

Thanks for the advice and tips.