DESIGNING PART 1

AN INTRODUCTION
A SCHOOL TO VEXILLOLOGY
PART 2

FLAG PROJECT BRIEF

Ronald Reagan IB High School

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
WHAT IS
COMMUNICATION
DESIGN? practice of problem-solving through the
Communication Design is the art and

use of type, space, image and color in

which to convey information/message to
a target audience.
PART 1

AN INTRODUCTION
TO VEXILLOLOGY
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
 No. 1
KEEP IT SIMPLE

Flags are made to be reproduced, so the

design needs to be easily drawn and sewn.
This also includes omitting text, which
necessitates double-faced flags.
• Simpler flags can be reproduced in
smaller sizes without sacrificing detail or
accuracy.
• Lower cost.
• Is more easily remembered; able to
draw by memory.

PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY

5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
 Alabama

PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY

5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
 Turkmenistan

Bangladesh

PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY

5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
 Congo

West Virginia

PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY

5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
 Amsterdam Seal

Amsterdam Flag

PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY

5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
 No. 2
USE MEANINGFUL SYMBOLISM
The flag’s images, colors, or patterns should
relate to what it symbolizes.

Did you know: diagonal stripes are often

used by former colonies as an alternative to
the generally horizontal and vertical stripes of
European countries.

DO YOUR RESEARCH. Know what each

graphic element represents. You should be
able to explain the meaning behind each
mark.

PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY

5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
 Libya

Italy

PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY

5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
 Iroquois Confederacy

Navajo Nation

PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY

5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 2: PROJECT BRIEF
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 2: PROJECT BRIEF
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 2: PROJECT BRIEF
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
 No. 3
COLOR THEORY

PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY

5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
 No. 3
COLOR THEORY

PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY

5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
 Virginia

New Mexico

PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY

5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
 No. 4
NO LETTERING OR SEALS

Vermont

Nebraska

PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY

5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
 No. 4
EFFECTIVE TEXT USAGE

Colorado

PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY

5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
 No. 5
BE DISTINCTIVE OR RELATED

PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY

5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
 No. 6 THINGS TO CONSIDER
INCLUSIVITY & CULTURE

PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY

5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO VEXILLOLOGY
5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
PART 2

PROJECT BRIEF
PART 2: PROJECT BRIEF
 RESEARCH

Long list of Vexillologists and designers

on Wikipedia’s page.

PART 2: PROJECT BRIEF

5 Rules: Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag by Ted Kaye
 MIND MAPPING
A Creative Tool for Ideation

PART 2: PROJECT BRIEF

 100 Ideas

8
Ideas

3
Ideas

Best
Idea!

PART 2: PROJECT BRIEF

 Mind maps can be hybrid of both words AND pictures. It
apes the way the mind works, combining creative thinking,
brainstorming, problem solving and note taking. The
combination of words and pictures is six times better for
remembering information than words alone.

PART 2: PROJECT BRIEF

 It allows the mind to move away from restrictive linear
thinking and stimulate radial thinking. This technique has
been proven to be more effective than generating a
straightforward linear list, and is widely being adopted by
design studios as a way to take brainstorming further.

PART 2: PROJECT BRIEF

 CENTER

PART 2: PROJECT BRIEF

 RONALD REAGAN MISSION STATEMENT
To provide superior educational opportunities so students can achieve

their highest potential. Our administrators, staff, parents, and community

supporters work together to make this mission a reality for our urban

teens. Our dynamic high school has experienced skyrocketing success

since its inception in 2003.

MPS MISSION STATEMENT

Milwaukee Public Schools is a diverse district

that welcomes all students, preparing them for

success in higher education, post-educational

opportunities, work, and citizenship.

IB MISSION STATEMENT
The International Baccalaureate Organization aims to develop inquiring,

knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and

more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To

this end the IBO works with schools, governments, and international

organizations to develop challenging programs of international education

PART
and 2: PROJECT
rigorous BRIEF
assessment. These programs encourage students across

the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who

PART 2: PROJECT BRIEF
 SKETCHING

PART 2: PROJECT BRIEF

 GET FEEDBACK ON YOUR WORK!

PART 2: PROJECT BRIEF

CLOSING

RECAP
• Soft rules
Keep it simple.
Use meaningful symbolism.
Use two to three basic colors.
No lettering or seals.
Be distinctive or be related.
• Conduct research
• Have a message before you design,
remember identify and communicate.
• Get feedback
• Have fun and enjoy the process!
What will your school
flag look like?

THANK YOU
Content
Ted Kaye
Google Images
Nicole Hauch