“Flag experts” – there are people out there who call themselves that – step in to grade the new Minnesota state flag proposals:
So what about the actual experts? In interviews, flag experts and graphic designers generally praised the six choices. Vexillologists — yes, there’s a word for people who study flags — said Minnesota’s finalists mostly follow the guidelines of flag design.
Ted Kaye, secretary of the North American Vexillological Association, said he thinks the six finalists are a “good start.” But he also suggested one or more changes to each. A common critique was that the flags are “trying to do too much” and should be simplified in order to be distinguishable from a distance.
“All of these designs have a great flag in them trying to get out,” Kaye said. “They all need work, but that’s OK.”
“They all need work”
Give up hope. You have entered the world of the “Graphic Designer”.
Don’t get me wrong – I have good friends, colleagues and family who are graphic and visual designers. It’s a talent I do not have. I’m in UX, but not one of the visual-design-y UXers (no, they are not the same thing).
And if you turn a group of average graphic designers (not the very good ones in my social circle) loose on a project, they can and will spend two years picking out the “right” color palette.
So the GOP may get to repeal this nonsense after all (provided they win some House races).
The perfect new flag for Minnesota would be a white sheet, signifying.
a) surrender.
b) mindlessness.
c) fill in the blank.
OMG, Greg, are you Trying to start a war?
A White flag would be is a symbol of persistent pervasive systemic endemic White supremacy. Might as well put a huge Crow on it to symbolize segregation, in chains, to symbolize slavery, laying on its side to symbolize all the non-whites lynched like St. Floyd.
The flag may be allowed to have some white, a small amount, but it must be on the bottom showing it is symbolically subordinate to the Yellow, Black and Red colors which would represent the morally superior races, if there were such a thing as race, which there is not, only the perception of race used to discriminate against morally superior people.
The colors must not be sized in proportion to their representation in the population but instead in relation to their social justice score (in which Black are highest/largest group, Aboriginal/Native American/Indigenous/Indian/First Nations (whatever the current politically correct phrase is today) are second, and Asians are a thin layer above but the same proportion as White.
There must be no French writing and no star, as the explorers who adopted the motto “Star of the North” were wicked colonizers. Blue background representing water would be okay since that’s what the A/NA/I/I/FN called the place, as long as it wasn’t sky blue to remind people of the Hamm’s Beer jingle.
Seriously, dude, this is a delicate and critical process, too important to be left to amateurs. Stay in your lane.
^ Very astutely put. I think all the bases were covered. Is not-white a color?
Bigman,
I apologize for my white, cis-gendered ignorance and grovel for forgiveness.
I accept this as a learning experience and promise to do better in the future, but given my race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation, we all know I won’t.
Don’t talk to me about flag experts until they consult with Dr. Sheldon Cooper of “Fun with Flags” fame.
Keep in mind that if Minnesota adopted the white flag as its state flag, the French would sue for trademark infringement.
Seriously, the reality that there are graphic designers who do everyday things, and there are artists who do things that transcend time. It’s a good thing not to confuse one with the other.
Now we also find out that including the year on the new state seal is also problematic.
Our local news reported on the proposed state seal, which features a loon. Very appropriate for a state dominated by Democrats.