TED2015
Roman Mars: Why city flags may be the worst-designed thing you've never noticed
Filmed:
Readability: 4.1
6,226,252 views
Roman Mars is obsessed with flags -- and after you watch this talk, you might be, too. These ubiquitous symbols of civic pride are often designed, well, pretty terribly. But they don't have to be. In this surprising and hilarious talk about vexillology -- the study of flags -- Mars reveals the five basic principles of flag design and shows why he believes they can be applied to just about anything.
Roman Mars - Digital storyteller
With his show 99% Invisible, Roman Mars discovered new ways to jolt public radio out of its old paradigms, while at the same time spinning riveting tales of design. Full bio
With his show 99% Invisible, Roman Mars discovered new ways to jolt public radio out of its old paradigms, while at the same time spinning riveting tales of design. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
I know what you're thinking:
0
974
1997
00:14
"Why does that guy get to sit down?"
1
2971
2716
00:17
That's because this is radio.
2
5687
3251
00:20
(Music)
3
8938
3204
00:24
I tell radio stories about design,
4
12142
3042
00:27
and I report on all kinds of stories:
5
15184
1996
00:29
buildings and toothbrushes
6
17180
1970
00:31
and mascots and wayfinding and fonts.
7
19150
2442
00:33
My mission is to get people to engage
with the design that they care about
with the design that they care about
8
21592
4110
00:37
so they begin to pay attention
to all forms of design.
to all forms of design.
9
25702
3251
00:40
When you decode the world
with design intent in mind,
with design intent in mind,
10
28953
4365
00:45
the world becomes kind of magical.
11
33318
2508
00:47
Instead of seeing the broken things,
12
35826
2113
00:49
you see all the little bits of genius
13
37939
2345
00:52
that anonymous designers have sweated over
14
40284
2856
00:55
to make our lives better.
15
43140
2043
00:57
And that's essentially
the definition of design:
the definition of design:
16
45183
2322
00:59
making life better and providing joy.
17
47505
3134
01:02
And few things give me greater joy
18
50639
2901
01:05
than a well-designed flag.
19
53540
2184
01:07
(Laughter) (Applause)
20
55724
2046
01:09
Yeah!
21
57770
1900
01:13
Happy 50th anniversary
on your flag, Canada.
on your flag, Canada.
22
61320
2461
01:15
It is beautiful, gold standard. Love it.
23
63781
3460
01:19
I'm kind of obsessed with flags.
24
67241
2577
01:21
Sometimes I bring up the topic of flags,
25
69818
1974
01:23
and people are like,
"I don't care about flags,"
"I don't care about flags,"
26
71792
4156
01:27
and then we start talking
about flags, and trust me,
about flags, and trust me,
27
75948
3512
01:31
100 percent of people care about flags.
28
79460
2386
01:33
There's just something about them
that works on our emotions.
that works on our emotions.
29
81846
3413
01:37
My family wrapped my Christmas presents
as flags this year,
as flags this year,
30
85259
3692
01:40
including the blue gift bag
31
88951
3576
01:44
that's dressed up as the flag of Scotland.
32
92527
3413
01:47
I put this picture online,
and sure enough,
and sure enough,
33
95940
2368
01:50
within the first few minutes,
someone left a comment that said,
someone left a comment that said,
34
98308
3182
01:53
"You can take that Scottish Saltire
and shove it up your ass." (Laughter)
and shove it up your ass." (Laughter)
35
101490
3480
01:56
Which -- see, people are passionate
about flags, you know?
about flags, you know?
36
104970
3897
02:00
That's the way it is.
37
108867
1494
02:02
What I love about flags
38
110361
1342
02:03
is that once you understand
the design of flags,
the design of flags,
39
111703
2516
02:06
what makes a good flag,
what makes a bad flag,
what makes a bad flag,
40
114219
2229
02:08
you can understand
the design of almost anything.
the design of almost anything.
41
116448
2948
02:11
So what I'm going to do here is,
42
119396
1811
02:13
I cracked open an episode
of my radio show,
of my radio show,
43
121207
3359
02:16
"99% Invisible," and I'm going
to reconstruct it here on stage,
to reconstruct it here on stage,
44
124566
3143
02:19
so when I press a button over here --
45
127709
2020
02:21
Voice: S for Sound --
46
129729
1905
02:23
Roman Mars: It's going to make a sound,
47
131634
1922
02:25
and so whenever you hear a sound
48
133556
1560
02:27
or a voice or a piece of music,
49
135116
1830
02:28
it's because I pressed a button.
50
136946
1699
02:30
Voice: Sssssound.
51
138645
2234
02:32
RM: All right, got it? Here we go.
52
140879
3739
02:36
Three, two.
53
144618
3157
02:39
This is 99% Invisible. I'm Roman Mars.
54
147775
4326
02:48
Narrator: The five basic
principles of flag design.
principles of flag design.
55
156665
2934
02:51
Roman Mars: According to the North
American Vexillological Association.
American Vexillological Association.
56
159599
3530
02:55
Vexillological.
57
163129
1601
02:56
Ted Kaye: Vexillology
is the study of flags.
is the study of flags.
58
164730
2950
02:59
RM: It's that extra "lol"
that makes it sound weird.
that makes it sound weird.
59
167680
2507
03:02
Narrator: Number one,
keep it simple.
keep it simple.
60
170187
2020
03:04
The flag should be so simple
that a child can draw it from memory.
that a child can draw it from memory.
61
172207
3274
03:07
RM: Before I moved to Chicago in 2005,
62
175481
2206
03:09
I didn't even know cities
had their own flags.
had their own flags.
63
177687
2241
03:11
TK: Most larger cities
do have flags.
do have flags.
64
179928
1740
03:13
RM: Well, I didn't know that.
That's Ted Kaye, by the way.
That's Ted Kaye, by the way.
65
181668
2733
03:16
TK: Hello.
RM: He's a flag expert.
RM: He's a flag expert.
66
184401
2068
03:18
He's a totally awesome guy.
67
186469
1295
03:19
TK: I'm Ted Kaye. I have edited
a scholarly journal on flag studies,
a scholarly journal on flag studies,
68
187764
3578
03:23
and I am currently involved
with the Portland Flag Association
with the Portland Flag Association
69
191342
2970
03:26
and the North American
Vexillological Association.
Vexillological Association.
70
194312
3251
03:29
RM: Ted literally wrote
the book on flag design.
the book on flag design.
71
197563
2983
03:32
Narrator: "Good Flag, Bad Flag."
72
200546
1865
03:34
RM: It's more of a pamphlet, really.
It's about 16 pages.
It's about 16 pages.
73
202411
2710
03:37
TK: Yes, it's called
"Good Flag, Bad Flag:
"Good Flag, Bad Flag:
74
205121
2419
03:39
How to Design a Great Flag."
75
207540
2050
03:41
RM: And that first city flag
I discovered in Chicago
I discovered in Chicago
76
209590
2600
03:44
is a beaut:
77
212190
1245
03:45
white field, two horizontal blue stripes,
78
213435
2810
03:48
and four six-pointed red stars
down the middle.
down the middle.
79
216245
3483
03:52
Narrator: Number two:
use meaningful symbolism.
use meaningful symbolism.
80
220310
2862
03:55
TK: The blue stripes represent
the water, the river and the lake.
the water, the river and the lake.
81
223172
3137
03:58
Narrator: The flag's images,
colors or pattern
colors or pattern
82
226309
2154
04:00
should relate to what it symbolizes.
83
228463
1732
04:02
TK: The red stars represent
significant events in Chicago's history.
significant events in Chicago's history.
84
230195
3574
04:05
RM: Namely, the founding of Fort Dearborn
on the future site of Chicago,
on the future site of Chicago,
85
233769
4186
04:09
the Great Chicago Fire,
86
237955
2298
04:12
the World Columbian Exposition,
which everyone remembers
which everyone remembers
87
240253
2903
04:15
because of the White City,
88
243156
2404
04:17
and the Century of Progress Exposition,
89
245560
1891
04:19
which no one remembers at all.
90
247451
2322
04:21
Narrator: Number three,
use two to three basic colors.
use two to three basic colors.
91
249773
2928
04:24
TK: The basic rule for colors
is to use two to three colors
is to use two to three colors
92
252701
3193
04:27
from the standard color set:
93
255894
2493
04:30
red, white, blue,
green, yellow and black.
green, yellow and black.
94
258387
2988
04:33
RM: The design of the Chicago flag
has complete buy-in
has complete buy-in
95
261375
2608
04:35
with an entire cross-section of the city.
96
263983
1974
04:37
It is everywhere;
97
265957
1718
04:39
every municipal building flies the flag.
98
267675
1928
04:41
Whet Moser: Like, there's probably
at least one store on every block
at least one store on every block
99
269603
3213
04:44
near where I work that sells
some sort of Chicago flag paraphernalia.
some sort of Chicago flag paraphernalia.
100
272816
3380
04:48
RM: That's Whet Moser
from Chicago magazine.
from Chicago magazine.
101
276196
2206
04:50
WM: Today, just for example,
I went to get a haircut,
I went to get a haircut,
102
278402
3112
04:53
and when I sat down in the barber's chair,
103
281514
3166
04:56
there was a Chicago flag on the box
that the barber kept all his tools in,
that the barber kept all his tools in,
104
284680
4124
05:00
and then in the mirror there was
a Chicago flag on the wall behind me.
a Chicago flag on the wall behind me.
105
288804
3483
05:04
When I left, a guy passed me who had
a Chicago flag badge on his backpack.
a Chicago flag badge on his backpack.
106
292287
4992
05:09
RM: It's adaptable and remixable.
107
297279
1881
05:11
The six-pointed stars in particular
show up in all kinds of places.
show up in all kinds of places.
108
299160
3181
05:14
WM: The coffee I bought the other day
109
302341
2113
05:16
had a Chicago star on it.
110
304454
2206
05:18
RM: It's a distinct symbol
of Chicago pride.
of Chicago pride.
111
306660
2995
05:21
TK: When a police officer
or a firefighter dies in Chicago,
or a firefighter dies in Chicago,
112
309655
3274
05:24
often it's not the flag of the
United States on his casket.
United States on his casket.
113
312929
3599
05:28
It can be the flag of the city of Chicago.
114
316528
3111
05:31
That's how deeply the flag has gotten
into the civic imagery of Chicago.
into the civic imagery of Chicago.
115
319639
5526
05:37
RM: And it isn't just that people
love Chicago and therefore love the flag.
love Chicago and therefore love the flag.
116
325165
4110
05:41
I also think that people love Chicago more
117
329275
3019
05:44
because the flag is so cool.
118
332294
3276
05:47
TK: A positive feedback loop there
between great symbolism and civic pride.
between great symbolism and civic pride.
119
335570
5150
05:52
RM: Okay. So when I moved back
to San Francisco in 2008,
to San Francisco in 2008,
120
340720
2812
05:55
I researched its flag,
121
343532
1625
05:57
because I had never seen it
122
345157
1997
05:59
in the previous eight years I lived there.
123
347154
2763
06:01
And I found it, I am sorry to say,
124
349917
3018
06:04
sadly lacking.
125
352935
2276
06:07
(Laughter)
126
355211
3181
06:10
I know.
127
358392
2136
06:12
It hurts me, too.
128
360528
1788
06:14
(Laughter)
129
362316
1354
06:15
TK: Well, let me start from the top.
130
363670
2112
06:17
Narrator: Number one, keep it simple.
131
365782
2040
06:19
TK: Keeping it simple.
132
367822
1224
06:21
Narrator: The flag should be so simple
that a child can draw it from memory.
that a child can draw it from memory.
133
369046
3734
06:24
TK: It's a relatively complex flag.
134
372780
2131
06:26
RM: Okay, here we go. Okay.
135
374911
1302
06:28
The main component
of the San Francisco flag is a phoenix
of the San Francisco flag is a phoenix
136
376213
2681
06:30
representing the city
rising from the ashes
rising from the ashes
137
378894
2438
06:33
after the devastating fires of the 1850s.
138
381332
2879
06:36
TK: A powerful symbol for San Francisco.
139
384211
2392
06:38
RM: I still don't really dig the phoenix.
140
386603
2206
06:40
Design-wise, it manages
to both be too crude
to both be too crude
141
388809
2577
06:43
and have too many details
at the same time,
at the same time,
142
391386
3042
06:46
which if you were trying for that,
143
394428
1787
06:48
you wouldn't be able to do it,
144
396215
1865
06:50
and it just looks bad at a distance,
145
398080
1850
06:51
but having deep meaning
puts that element in the plus column.
puts that element in the plus column.
146
399930
3692
06:55
Behind the phoenix,
the background is mostly white,
the background is mostly white,
147
403622
2926
06:58
and then it has a substantial
gold border around it.
gold border around it.
148
406548
3692
07:02
TK: Which is a very attractive
design element.
design element.
149
410240
2628
07:04
RM: I think it's okay. But --
(Laughter) --
(Laughter) --
150
412868
3575
07:08
here come the big no-nos of flag design.
151
416443
2527
07:10
Narrator: Number four,
no lettering or seals.
no lettering or seals.
152
418970
2531
07:13
Never use writing of any kind.
153
421501
1635
07:15
RM: Underneath the phoenix,
there's a motto on a ribbon
there's a motto on a ribbon
154
423136
2637
07:17
that translates to
"Gold in peace, iron in war,"
"Gold in peace, iron in war,"
155
425773
3729
07:21
plus -- and this is the big problem --
156
429502
2355
07:23
it says San Francisco across the bottom.
157
431857
2533
07:26
TK: If you need to write the name
158
434390
1990
07:28
of what you're representing on your flag,
159
436380
2373
07:30
your symbolism has failed.
160
438753
1996
07:32
(Laughter) (Applause)
161
440749
3828
07:36
RM: The United States flag
doesn't say "USA" across the front.
doesn't say "USA" across the front.
162
444577
3965
07:40
In fact, country flags,
they tend to behave.
they tend to behave.
163
448542
3181
07:43
Like, hats off to South Africa
and Turkey and Israel
and Turkey and Israel
164
451723
2995
07:46
and Somalia and Japan and Gambia.
165
454718
2276
07:48
There's a bunch
of really great country flags,
of really great country flags,
166
456994
2531
07:51
but they obey good design principles
because the stakes are high.
because the stakes are high.
167
459525
4458
07:55
They're on the international stage.
168
463983
2298
07:58
But city, state and regional flags
169
466281
2485
08:00
are another story.
170
468766
2884
08:03
(Laughter)
171
471650
1500
08:05
There is a scourge of bad flags,
172
473150
2953
08:08
and they must be stopped.
173
476103
2229
08:10
(Laughter) (Applause)
174
478332
2429
08:12
That is the truth and that is the dare.
175
480761
3367
08:16
The first step is to recognize
176
484128
2322
08:18
that we have a problem.
177
486450
3065
08:24
A lot of people tend to think
that good design
that good design
178
492437
2859
08:27
is just a matter of taste,
179
495296
1626
08:28
and quite honestly,
sometimes it is, actually,
sometimes it is, actually,
180
496922
2623
08:31
but sometimes it isn't, all right?
181
499545
4435
08:35
Here's the full list of NAVA
flag design principles.
flag design principles.
182
503980
2473
08:38
Narrator: The five
basic principles of flag design.
basic principles of flag design.
183
506453
4187
08:42
Number one.
TK: Keep it simple.
TK: Keep it simple.
184
510640
1660
08:44
Narrator: Number two.
TK: Use meaningful symbolism.
TK: Use meaningful symbolism.
185
512300
2409
08:46
Narrator: Number three.
TK: Use two to three basic colors.
TK: Use two to three basic colors.
186
514709
2747
08:49
Narrator: Number four.
TK: No lettering or seals.
TK: No lettering or seals.
187
517456
2336
08:51
Narrator: Never use
writing of any kind.
writing of any kind.
188
519792
1881
08:53
TK: Because you can't
read that at a distance.
read that at a distance.
189
521673
2147
08:55
Narrator: Number five.
TK: And be distinctive.
TK: And be distinctive.
190
523820
2156
08:57
RM: All the best flags tend
to stick to these principles.
to stick to these principles.
191
525976
2663
09:00
And like I said before,
most country flags are okay.
most country flags are okay.
192
528639
2740
09:03
But here's the thing:
193
531379
1541
09:04
if you showed this list of principles
to any designer of almost anything,
to any designer of almost anything,
194
532920
3479
09:08
they would say these principles --
simplicity, deep meaning,
simplicity, deep meaning,
195
536399
4071
09:12
having few colors or being
thoughtful about colors,
thoughtful about colors,
196
540470
2437
09:14
uniqueness, don't have
writing you can't read --
writing you can't read --
197
542907
2287
09:17
all those principles apply to them, too.
198
545194
2438
09:19
But sadly, good design principles
are rarely invoked
are rarely invoked
199
547632
3622
09:23
in U.S. city flags.
200
551254
1767
09:25
Our biggest problem
seems to be that fourth one.
seems to be that fourth one.
201
553021
2366
09:27
We just can't stop ourselves
202
555387
1742
09:29
from putting our names on our flags,
203
557129
2391
09:31
or little municipal seals
with tiny writing on them.
with tiny writing on them.
204
559520
3646
09:35
Here's the thing about municipal seals:
205
563166
2020
09:37
They were designed
to be on pieces of paper
to be on pieces of paper
206
565186
2755
09:39
where you can read them,
207
567941
1530
09:41
not on flags 100 feet away
flapping in the breeze.
flapping in the breeze.
208
569471
2912
09:44
So here's a bunch of flags again.
209
572383
2067
09:46
Vexillologists call these SOBs:
210
574450
2949
09:49
seals on a bedsheet -- (Laughter) --
211
577399
2879
09:52
and if you can't tell
what city they go to,
what city they go to,
212
580278
2902
09:55
yeah, that's exactly the problem,
213
583180
1970
09:57
except for Anaheim, apparently.
214
585150
1676
09:58
They fixed it. (Laughter)
215
586826
3343
10:02
These flags are everywhere in the U.S.
216
590169
2949
10:05
The European equivalent
of the municipal seal
of the municipal seal
217
593118
2508
10:07
is the city coat of arms,
218
595626
2043
10:09
and this is where we can learn
a lesson for how to do things right.
a lesson for how to do things right.
219
597669
3669
10:13
So this is the city
coat of arms of Amsterdam.
coat of arms of Amsterdam.
220
601338
2252
10:15
Now, if this were a United States city,
221
603590
2066
10:17
the flag would probably look like this.
222
605656
1904
10:19
You know, yeah. (Laughter)
223
607560
2621
10:22
But instead, the flag of Amsterdam
224
610181
2414
10:24
looks like this.
225
612595
2972
10:27
Rather than plopping
the whole coat of arms
the whole coat of arms
226
615567
2090
10:29
on a solid background and writing
"Amsterdam" below it,
"Amsterdam" below it,
227
617657
2972
10:32
they just take the key elements
of the escutcheon, the shield,
of the escutcheon, the shield,
228
620629
3274
10:35
and they turn it into the most
badass city flag in the world.
badass city flag in the world.
229
623903
3785
10:39
(Laughter) (Applause)
230
627688
3597
10:45
And because it's so badass,
231
633794
2236
10:48
those flags and crosses
are found throughout Amsterdam,
are found throughout Amsterdam,
232
636030
2733
10:50
just like Chicago, they're used.
233
638763
2461
10:53
Even though seal-on-a-bedsheet flags
are particularly painful
are particularly painful
234
641224
3274
10:56
and offensive to me,
235
644498
1835
10:58
nothing can quite prepare you
236
646333
2043
11:00
for one of the biggest train wrecks
in vexillological history.
in vexillological history.
237
648376
4824
11:05
Are you ready?
238
653200
1445
11:06
It's the flag of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
239
654645
2949
11:09
(Laughter)
240
657594
2587
11:17
I mean, it's distinctive,
241
665465
3994
11:21
I'll give them that.
242
669459
2275
11:23
Steve Kodis: It was adopted in 1955.
243
671734
2623
11:26
RM: The city ran a contest
244
674357
1500
11:27
and gathered a bunch of submissions
245
675857
1870
11:29
with all kinds of designs.
246
677727
1786
11:31
SK: And an alderman
by the name of Fred Steffan
by the name of Fred Steffan
247
679513
3784
11:35
cobbled together parts of the submissions
248
683297
3297
11:38
to make what is now the Milwaukee flag.
249
686594
3344
11:41
RM: It's a kitchen sink flag.
250
689938
3181
11:45
There's a gigantic gear
representing industry,
representing industry,
251
693119
2786
11:47
there's a ship recognizing the port,
252
695905
2745
11:50
a giant stalk of wheat
253
698650
1133
11:51
paying homage to the brewing industry.
254
699783
2020
11:53
It's a hot mess,
255
701803
1648
11:55
and Steve Kodis, a graphic designer
from Milwaukee, wants to change it.
from Milwaukee, wants to change it.
256
703451
4737
12:00
SK: It's really awful.
257
708188
2502
12:02
It's a misstep on the city's behalf,
258
710690
2467
12:05
to say the least.
259
713157
2020
12:07
RM: But what puts
the Milwaukee flag over the top,
the Milwaukee flag over the top,
260
715177
2786
12:09
almost to the point of self-parody,
261
717963
2020
12:11
is on it is a picture of the Civil War
battle flag of the Milwaukee regiment.
battle flag of the Milwaukee regiment.
262
719993
6277
12:18
SK: So that's the final element in it
263
726280
2159
12:20
that just makes it
that much more ridiculous,
that much more ridiculous,
264
728439
2411
12:22
that there is a flag design
within the Milwaukee flag.
within the Milwaukee flag.
265
730850
4504
12:27
RM: On the flag. Yeah. Yeah. (Laughter)
266
735354
3204
12:30
Yeah.
267
738558
1603
12:32
(Music)
268
740161
1732
12:33
Now, Milwaukee is a fantastic city.
269
741893
2415
12:36
I've been there. I love it.
270
744308
2275
12:38
The most depressing part
of this flag, though,
of this flag, though,
271
746583
2183
12:40
is that there have been
two major redesign contests.
two major redesign contests.
272
748766
3134
12:43
The last one was held in 2001.
273
751900
2299
12:46
One hundred and five
entries were received.
entries were received.
274
754199
2321
12:48
TK: But in the end, the members
of the Milwaukee Arts Board
of the Milwaukee Arts Board
275
756520
2800
12:51
decided that none of the new entries
were worthy of flying over the city.
were worthy of flying over the city.
276
759320
3590
12:54
RM: They couldn't agree
to change that thing! (Laughter)
to change that thing! (Laughter)
277
762910
3704
12:58
That's discouraging enough
to make you think
to make you think
278
766614
2160
13:00
that good design and democracy
279
768774
2094
13:02
just simply do not go together.
280
770868
2687
13:05
But Steve Kotas is going
to try one more time
to try one more time
281
773555
2600
13:08
to redesign the Milwaukee flag.
282
776155
2346
13:10
SK: I believe Milwaukee is a great city.
283
778501
2414
13:12
Every great city deserves a great flag.
284
780915
2935
13:15
RM: Steve isn't ready
to reveal his design yet.
to reveal his design yet.
285
783850
2203
13:18
One of the things about
proposing one of these things
proposing one of these things
286
786053
2489
13:20
is you have to get people on board,
287
788542
1893
13:22
and then you reveal your design.
288
790435
1858
13:24
But here's the trick:
289
792293
1427
13:25
If you want to design a great flag,
290
793720
2056
13:27
a kickass flag like Chicago's or D.C.'s,
which also has a great flag,
which also has a great flag,
291
795776
3436
13:31
start by drawing a one-by-one-and-a-half-
inch rectangle on a piece of paper.
inch rectangle on a piece of paper.
292
799212
4466
13:35
Your design has to fit
within that tiny rectangle.
within that tiny rectangle.
293
803678
2372
13:38
Here's why.
294
806050
1276
13:39
TK: A three-by-five-foot flag
295
807326
2195
13:41
on a pole 100 feet away
296
809521
2206
13:43
looks about the same size
297
811727
2159
13:45
as a one-by-one-and-a-half-inch rectangle
298
813886
5109
13:50
seen about 15 inches from your eye.
299
818995
2507
13:53
You'd be surprised by how compelling
and simple the design can be
and simple the design can be
300
821502
3947
13:57
when you hold yourself to that limitation.
301
825449
4031
14:01
RM: Meanwhile, back in San Francisco.
302
829480
2285
14:03
Is there anything we can do?
303
831765
2038
14:05
TK: I like to say
that in every bad flag
that in every bad flag
304
833803
2260
14:08
there's a good flag trying to get out.
(Laughter)
(Laughter)
305
836063
2348
14:10
The way to make
San Francisco's flag a good flag
San Francisco's flag a good flag
306
838411
2300
14:12
is to take the motto off
307
840711
1688
14:14
because you can't read that at a distance.
308
842399
2299
14:16
Take the name off,
309
844698
1788
14:18
and the border might even be made thicker,
310
846486
2066
14:20
so it's more a part of the flag.
311
848552
1974
14:22
And I would simply take the phoenix
312
850526
1834
14:24
and make it a great big element
313
852360
1881
14:26
in the middle of the flag.
314
854241
1419
14:27
RM: But the current phoenix,
that's got to go.
that's got to go.
315
855660
2946
14:30
TK: I would simplify
or stylize the phoenix.
or stylize the phoenix.
316
858606
3319
14:33
Depict a big, wide-winged bird
317
861925
2370
14:36
coming out of flames.
318
864295
1385
14:37
Emphasize those flames.
319
865680
1877
14:39
RM: So this San Francisco flag
was designed by Frank Chimero
was designed by Frank Chimero
320
867557
2817
14:42
based on Ted Kaye's suggestions.
321
870374
1589
14:43
I don't know what he would do
if we was completely unfettered
if we was completely unfettered
322
871963
2890
14:46
and didn't follow those guidelines.
323
874853
1690
14:48
Fans of my radio show and podcast,
324
876543
1674
14:50
they've heard me complain about bad flags.
325
878217
2090
14:52
They've sent me other suggested designs.
326
880307
1904
14:54
This one's by Neil Mussett.
327
882211
1950
14:56
Both are so much better.
328
884161
2717
14:58
And I think if they were adopted,
329
886878
2740
15:01
I would see them around the city.
330
889618
3018
15:04
In my crusade to make
flags of the world more beautiful,
flags of the world more beautiful,
331
892636
3166
15:07
many listeners have taken it
upon themselves
upon themselves
332
895802
2064
15:09
to redesign their flags
and look into the feasibility
and look into the feasibility
333
897866
2485
15:12
of getting them officially adopted.
334
900351
2391
15:16
If you see your city flag and like it,
335
904018
2741
15:18
fly it,
336
906759
1454
15:20
even if it violates
a design rule or two.
a design rule or two.
337
908213
2284
15:22
I don't care.
338
910497
1626
15:24
But if you don't see your city flag,
339
912123
2177
15:26
maybe it doesn't exist, but maybe it does,
340
914300
2466
15:28
and it just sucks,
341
916766
1765
15:30
and I dare you to join the effort
to try to change that.
to try to change that.
342
918531
5410
15:35
As we move more and more into cities,
343
923941
2461
15:38
the city flag will become
344
926402
1742
15:40
not just a symbol of that city as a place,
345
928144
3134
15:43
but also it could become
346
931278
2067
15:45
a symbol of how that city
considers design itself,
considers design itself,
347
933345
4040
15:49
especially today, as the populace
is becoming more design-aware.
is becoming more design-aware.
348
937385
3915
15:53
And I think design awareness
is at an all-time high.
is at an all-time high.
349
941300
2563
15:55
A well-designed flag could be seen
as an indicator of how a city
as an indicator of how a city
350
943863
3785
15:59
considers all of its design systems:
351
947648
2856
16:02
its public transit,
352
950504
1802
16:04
its parks, its signage.
353
952306
1997
16:06
It might seem frivolous, but it's not.
354
954303
3436
16:09
TK: Often when city leaders say,
355
957739
1978
16:11
"We have more important things to do
than worry about a city flag,"
than worry about a city flag,"
356
959717
4430
16:16
my response is,
357
964147
1812
16:17
"If you had a great city flag,
358
965959
1811
16:19
you would have a banner
for people to rally under
for people to rally under
359
967770
2414
16:22
to face those more important things."
360
970184
3019
16:26
RM: I've seen firsthand
what a good city flag can do
what a good city flag can do
361
974802
2609
16:29
in the case of Chicago.
362
977411
1718
16:31
The marriage of good design
and civic pride
and civic pride
363
979129
2206
16:33
is something that we need in all places.
364
981335
2368
16:35
The best part about municipal flags
365
983703
2090
16:37
is that we own them.
366
985793
1858
16:39
They are an open-source,
367
987651
1787
16:41
publicly owned design language
of the community.
of the community.
368
989438
3553
16:44
When they are done well,
369
992991
1857
16:46
they are remixable, adaptable,
370
994848
2532
16:49
and they are powerful.
371
997380
1145
16:50
We could control the branding
and graphical imagery
and graphical imagery
372
998525
2430
16:52
of our cities with a good flag,
373
1000955
1834
16:54
but instead, by having
bad flags we don't use,
bad flags we don't use,
374
1002789
2485
16:57
we cede that territory to sports teams
375
1005274
2577
16:59
and chambers of commerce
and tourism boards.
and tourism boards.
376
1007851
2810
17:02
Sports teams can leave
and break our hearts.
and break our hearts.
377
1010661
2554
17:05
And besides, some of us
don't really care about sports.
don't really care about sports.
378
1013215
3250
17:08
And tourism campaigns
can just be cheesy.
can just be cheesy.
379
1016465
2903
17:11
But a great city flag
380
1019368
1904
17:13
is something that represents
a city to its people
a city to its people
381
1021272
2414
17:15
and its people to the world at large.
382
1023686
2183
17:17
And when that flag is a beautiful thing,
383
1025869
2113
17:19
that connection is a beautiful thing.
384
1027982
2740
17:22
So maybe all the city flags
can be as inspiring as Hong Kong
can be as inspiring as Hong Kong
385
1030722
3599
17:26
or Portland or Trondheim,
386
1034321
2298
17:28
and we can do away with all the bad flags
387
1036619
2090
17:30
like San Francisco, Milwaukee,
388
1038709
2601
17:33
Cedar Rapids,
389
1041310
1555
17:34
and finally, when we're all done,
390
1042865
2369
17:37
we can do something
about Pocatello, Idaho,
about Pocatello, Idaho,
391
1045234
2600
17:39
considered by the North American
Vexillological Association
Vexillological Association
392
1047834
3971
17:43
as the worst city flag in North America.
393
1051805
4876
17:48
(Laughter) (Applause)
394
1056681
4239
17:56
Yeah.
395
1064111
2136
17:58
That thing has a trademark
symbol on it, people. (Laughter)
symbol on it, people. (Laughter)
396
1066247
3901
18:02
That hurts me just to look at.
397
1070148
3692
18:05
Thank you so much for listening.
398
1073840
2020
18:07
(Applause)
399
1075860
5768
18:13
["Music by: Melodium (@melodiumbox)
and Keegan DeWitt (@keegandewitt)"]
and Keegan DeWitt (@keegandewitt)"]
400
1081628
3695
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Roman Mars - Digital storytellerWith his show 99% Invisible, Roman Mars discovered new ways to jolt public radio out of its old paradigms, while at the same time spinning riveting tales of design.
Why you should listen
From its humble beginnings in his home, Roman Mars’ podcast and radio show 99% Invisible accumulated a massive following to become a broadcast and internet phenomenon. Its premise -- 10- to 20-minute episodes focused on a single compelling story -- subverts public radio’s reliance on long, strictly formatted shows, and has garnered national praise.
Over a series of three runaway crowdsourced fundraising campaigns, 99% Invisible generated over $1.2 million, making Mars the most successful crowdfunded journalist in Kickstarter history.
Roman Mars | Speaker | TED.com