Modern Flag Design is an open-source expansion of Good Flag, Bad Flag: How to Design a Great Flag, first published in 2001, articulated the five principles of good flag design synthesized by Ted Kaye and the North American Vexillological Association – The Flag Experts of the United States and Canada. The distillation of the expertise of over 20 vexillologists, it has become a classic resource for those wishing to design or re-design a flag. 

Many flags have changed since the publication of that book, and its overall design deserved refreshing. This expansion, created with the advice and support of Ted Kaye, aims to bring more details to principles for good flag design.

The five principles of good flag design that form the structure of this book are: Keep it simple, Use meaningful symbolism, Use few basic colors, No lettering or seals, Be distinctive or be related. For each principle you will find examples of good & bad design followed by a deeper analysis of one (or more flags) to sum up the chapter. Finally, you will find two detailed analysis of two flags to review all the rules around a practical case.

This book is open-source and you can find all the files used in its realization here (mirror). It's therefore up to you to enrich it or to translate it as you wish.

"A flag should be simple, readily made, and capable of being made up in bunting; it should be different from the flag of any other country, place or people; it should be significant; it should be readily distinguishable at a distance; the colors should be well contrasted and durable; and lastly, and not the least important point, it should be effective and handsome."

This book lays out five basic principles for good flag design, and then shows examples of flags that follow them and flags that disregard them. Whatever the design challenge that awaits you, You can use these five basic principles to create an outstanding flag for your organization, school, city, tribe, company, family, neighborhood, or even your country!

• This book is open-source, you can downlad for free all the files used here (mirror)

• You can also read it, in its entirety, below or on SlideShare

• A .pdf version is also available here (mirror)

The creation of a flag must be democratic. Exchange your ideas, share your creations, assure that your design suits what it represents in the long term. It is also a very interesting exercise to explore designs with those who will be united under a new banner.

Good luck in your adventure!