r/vexillology • u/Vexy Exclamation Point • Feb 01 '16

Discussion February Workshop: Symbolism

Previous Workshops

This topic was recommended by /u/MastaSchmitty, who won the January contest. The floor is open for discussion on how best to incorporate symbolism when designing a flag.

Specifically:

  • How do you distinguish flags with strong symbols from "logos on a bedsheet?"
  • How detailed should symbols generally be on flags?
  • What are some of your favorite examples of symbolism in flags?

Any other questions are welcome!

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u/bmoxey 2015 Contest Winner • Dec 13 Contest Winner Feb 02 '16

One way to make a symbol stand out (and not look like a logo on a bedsheet) is to cleverly use background pales. Pales are just background rectangles of a particular colour. A good example is Kenya. The colours used in the Massai shield are repeated in the background pales to make a pleasant flag design, rather than just a central logo. Canada is another good example of repeating the colour from the graphic in background pales to make a nice flag rather than just a central logo.