EXPLAIN THE MEANING BEHIND YOUR FLAG:
This slice of Old Glory is also a nod to the French flag, banners which both stood here. A single star shines our contribution to the union. Abe’s silhouette reminds us of our past. The red field highlights our present: Illinois’ most iconic border, formed by the mighty Mississippi. It’s steady flow, as progress itself, cuts through our banner in white leading us ever to the future. The flag still lacks any representation of our Illiniwek and Miami heritage, which should be added by their progeny. This week, the Illinois Flag Commission announced the top 10 finalists for the new state flag. Mine, sadly, did not make the cut . More than 5,000 ideas were submitted so it was always going to be a long shot, but some of the final choices are puzzling to say the least. For instance, one design simply takes the current state flag, removes the word "Illinois" and adds red and blue stripes on both sides. The justification for the design was to help "save money on an entirely new design." I'm not sure how even tweaking the current design saves any money, but the fact that was used as justification for its selection in the top 10 makes me question just how seriously the Flag Commission is taking this project. Let me recap, for those who aren't that into flags. Illinois' current state flag is simply the state seal on a white background with the word "Illinois" added below. It consistently ranks as one of the worst flag designs of the 50 state flags, which is saying something considering most state flags receive low grades from vexillologists. The fact that the commission charged with picking the best 10 submitted designs for the new flag chose one that is essentially the current flag really makes me wonder how bad they considered the other 4,990-plus designs. Surely there was not such a massive gap between the number 10 design and the number 11 design that we needed to keep such a useless entry in the mix. Now, having said that, there are some interesting designs in the mix. For those of you reading this column online, you'll find images of the 10 finalists. If you're looking at this in the e-edition or in the newspaper, I'd encourage you to go to theintelligencer.com to see the designs. I'll be referencing the images by the design to make it easier to pair everything up. But here are my thoughts on the designs. RELATIONSHIP TO ILLINOIS:
The students who worked on this flag are high school students living in Illinois named Johnna and Spresalynn. EXPLAIN THE MEANING BEHIND YOUR FLAG:
The state butterfly, the Monarch, is the focal point of this flag that includes 21 stars for Illinois being the 21st state (the large star represents Illinois). The orange represents success, determination, and creativity while the blue stands for trust, loyalty, and sincerity and strength. The "butterfly flag," for lack of a better term, immediately jumped out at me. It features 21 orange stars, representing Illinois as the 21st state, circling an orange butterfly. The monarch butterfly, a mostly orange butterfly, is the state insect. This is on a dark blue background. According to the designers, the orange "represents success, determination and creativity." The blue represents "trust, loyalty, sincerity, and strength." Something I'll also say in its favor is that orange and blue are the colors of my alma mater, the University of Illinois, so I can get behind this. Is it immediately recognizable as the flag of Illinois? I don't really know, but it's certainly a creative design. RELATIONSHIP TO ILLINOIS:
I’ve lived here for nearly 10 years and have grown to love this state. It’s an excellent place to settle down, with welcoming people who have always made me feel at home. From stunning city views to beautiful countryside, my appreciation for this state has deepened. EXPLAIN THE MEANING BEHIND YOUR FLAG:
A large gold star in the center draws attention, much like the standout features of our state. Gold color symbolizes out the richness in our state, people, land and views. A horizontal blue line symbolizes lake Michigan, separating the sky from the rich land. Two smaller lines add a neat, elegant touch. The central circle abstractly represents the view from above Abraham Lincoln’s hat. My second favorite of the finalists is the "gold star flag." In my design, I also included a gold star to represent Illinois. This is a blue and white flag, which happens to also be the colors of my high school alma mater, and the circle in the middle is to represent a top view of Abraham Lincoln's hat. It's an elegant and simple design, and feels very much like it could fit into the top tier of state flags along side those of Texas and Arizona, which also feature a lone star. The only thing I don't care for on this flag is the six-pointed star. The flag of Chicago contains a six-pointed star, and for a flag that is supposed to represent the entire state, I don't think a Chicago symbol should be so prominently featured. If the design could be altered to a 5-point star, or even a 21-point star to represent Illinois as the 21st state, I think it would be the clear winner. RELATIONSHIP TO ILLINOIS:
My connection to Illinois runs deep. My ancestors came from Ireland in the early 1900s and settled in Gridley, IL, where they farmed corn, soybeans, and raised livestock. My father grew up on that same farm, while my mother was raised in Champaign. They met at Illinois State University, where I also earned my Bachelor of Arts in graphic design. I’ve lived in Illinois my entire life, and its agricultural landscapes and small-town values make me proud to call Illinois home. EXPLAIN THE MEANING BEHIND YOUR FLAG:
The 21 stripes represent Illinois as the 21st state and reflect its agricultural roots, resembling rows of crops and the open prairie. Three six-pointed stars represent the state’s three regions: northern, central, and southern; and their 18 points reference Illinois’ founding in 1818. A sun on the horizon, also featured on our current state flag, represents renewal. The colors*Blue for unity, Green for agriculture, and Yellow for a bright future*honor Illinois’ history and natural beauty. Finally, my third favorite of the finalists is the "sun flag." This is the only true "out-of-the-box" design of the 10 finalists. It features 21 alternating green and white stripes under a light blue sky with a rising yellow sun. Three six-pointed stars adorn the top. Again, I'm not a fan of the six-pointed stars, but there's at least a solid reason for these — the 18 points represent the year 1818, which is when Illinois became a state. The other designs are either fairly mundane or repetitive. A lot of blue and white stripes. Some feature the state outline. Quite frankly, I don't believe the flag commission did a great job giving us enough different options for these designs. In my humble opinion, the three I highlighted clearly stand out above the others, but overall, I have to give the commission a D grade for its work. There had to have been better designs than some of these that didn't make the final cut.
CONTINUE READING
This slice of Old Glory is also a nod to the French flag, banners which both stood here. A single star shines our contribution to the union. Abe’s silhouette reminds us of our past. The red field highlights our present: Illinois’ most iconic border, formed by the mighty Mississippi. It’s steady flow, as progress itself, cuts through our banner in white leading us ever to the future. The flag still lacks any representation of our Illiniwek and Miami heritage, which should be added by their progeny. This week, the Illinois Flag Commission announced the top 10 finalists for the new state flag. Mine, sadly, did not make the cut . More than 5,000 ideas were submitted so it was always going to be a long shot, but some of the final choices are puzzling to say the least. For instance, one design simply takes the current state flag, removes the word "Illinois" and adds red and blue stripes on both sides. The justification for the design was to help "save money on an entirely new design." I'm not sure how even tweaking the current design saves any money, but the fact that was used as justification for its selection in the top 10 makes me question just how seriously the Flag Commission is taking this project. Let me recap, for those who aren't that into flags. Illinois' current state flag is simply the state seal on a white background with the word "Illinois" added below. It consistently ranks as one of the worst flag designs of the 50 state flags, which is saying something considering most state flags receive low grades from vexillologists. The fact that the commission charged with picking the best 10 submitted designs for the new flag chose one that is essentially the current flag really makes me wonder how bad they considered the other 4,990-plus designs. Surely there was not such a massive gap between the number 10 design and the number 11 design that we needed to keep such a useless entry in the mix. Now, having said that, there are some interesting designs in the mix. For those of you reading this column online, you'll find images of the 10 finalists. If you're looking at this in the e-edition or in the newspaper, I'd encourage you to go to theintelligencer.com to see the designs. I'll be referencing the images by the design to make it easier to pair everything up. But here are my thoughts on the designs. RELATIONSHIP TO ILLINOIS:
The students who worked on this flag are high school students living in Illinois named Johnna and Spresalynn. EXPLAIN THE MEANING BEHIND YOUR FLAG:
The state butterfly, the Monarch, is the focal point of this flag that includes 21 stars for Illinois being the 21st state (the large star represents Illinois). The orange represents success, determination, and creativity while the blue stands for trust, loyalty, and sincerity and strength. The "butterfly flag," for lack of a better term, immediately jumped out at me. It features 21 orange stars, representing Illinois as the 21st state, circling an orange butterfly. The monarch butterfly, a mostly orange butterfly, is the state insect. This is on a dark blue background. According to the designers, the orange "represents success, determination and creativity." The blue represents "trust, loyalty, sincerity, and strength." Something I'll also say in its favor is that orange and blue are the colors of my alma mater, the University of Illinois, so I can get behind this. Is it immediately recognizable as the flag of Illinois? I don't really know, but it's certainly a creative design. RELATIONSHIP TO ILLINOIS:
I’ve lived here for nearly 10 years and have grown to love this state. It’s an excellent place to settle down, with welcoming people who have always made me feel at home. From stunning city views to beautiful countryside, my appreciation for this state has deepened. EXPLAIN THE MEANING BEHIND YOUR FLAG:
A large gold star in the center draws attention, much like the standout features of our state. Gold color symbolizes out the richness in our state, people, land and views. A horizontal blue line symbolizes lake Michigan, separating the sky from the rich land. Two smaller lines add a neat, elegant touch. The central circle abstractly represents the view from above Abraham Lincoln’s hat. My second favorite of the finalists is the "gold star flag." In my design, I also included a gold star to represent Illinois. This is a blue and white flag, which happens to also be the colors of my high school alma mater, and the circle in the middle is to represent a top view of Abraham Lincoln's hat. It's an elegant and simple design, and feels very much like it could fit into the top tier of state flags along side those of Texas and Arizona, which also feature a lone star. The only thing I don't care for on this flag is the six-pointed star. The flag of Chicago contains a six-pointed star, and for a flag that is supposed to represent the entire state, I don't think a Chicago symbol should be so prominently featured. If the design could be altered to a 5-point star, or even a 21-point star to represent Illinois as the 21st state, I think it would be the clear winner. RELATIONSHIP TO ILLINOIS:
My connection to Illinois runs deep. My ancestors came from Ireland in the early 1900s and settled in Gridley, IL, where they farmed corn, soybeans, and raised livestock. My father grew up on that same farm, while my mother was raised in Champaign. They met at Illinois State University, where I also earned my Bachelor of Arts in graphic design. I’ve lived in Illinois my entire life, and its agricultural landscapes and small-town values make me proud to call Illinois home. EXPLAIN THE MEANING BEHIND YOUR FLAG:
The 21 stripes represent Illinois as the 21st state and reflect its agricultural roots, resembling rows of crops and the open prairie. Three six-pointed stars represent the state’s three regions: northern, central, and southern; and their 18 points reference Illinois’ founding in 1818. A sun on the horizon, also featured on our current state flag, represents renewal. The colors*Blue for unity, Green for agriculture, and Yellow for a bright future*honor Illinois’ history and natural beauty. Finally, my third favorite of the finalists is the "sun flag." This is the only true "out-of-the-box" design of the 10 finalists. It features 21 alternating green and white stripes under a light blue sky with a rising yellow sun. Three six-pointed stars adorn the top. Again, I'm not a fan of the six-pointed stars, but there's at least a solid reason for these — the 18 points represent the year 1818, which is when Illinois became a state. The other designs are either fairly mundane or repetitive. A lot of blue and white stripes. Some feature the state outline. Quite frankly, I don't believe the flag commission did a great job giving us enough different options for these designs. In my humble opinion, the three I highlighted clearly stand out above the others, but overall, I have to give the commission a D grade for its work. There had to have been better designs than some of these that didn't make the final cut.
