Massachusetts Flag and Motto Design Proposals

[A Stud-Finder]

New state flag and motto submissions have been released. They haven't filtered out any https://www.mass.gov/doc/massachusetts-seal-flag-motto-submissions/download

What are your favorites? There are definitely some good ones, and then there are actual submissions. Also feel free to make your own.

What I'm guessing will be @Ben 's favorite


Another good one:


Little busy, but still good.

 

[shortkut]

Meh-ssachusetts

 

[Ben]

What I'm guessing will be @Ben 's favorite
View attachment 34335

 

[Jawneh]

I like this kid drawn Link ass bird who got the master sword.

 

[A Stud-Finder]

View attachment 34343

I like this kid drawn Link ass bird who got the master sword.

No notes. Perfect flag. Good job kid.

 

[Crystal]

...page 142 someone submitted the flag of Australia? And someone submitted basically the flag of Kiribati on one of the first couple of submissions, lol. Gotta' love it.

 

[Jawneh]

...page 142 someone submitted the flag of Australia? And someone submitted basically the flag of Kiribati on one of the first couple of submissions, lol. Gotta' love it.

Yeah. I scanned through a bunch and saw what looked like redraws of other countries' flags or the very least  very inspired by them. Though i kind of like Mass flag being partly like a Jamaican flag.

 

[Crystal]

Yeah. I scanned through a bunch and saw what looked like redraws of other countries' flags or the very least  very inspired by them. Though i kind of like Mass flag being partly like a Jamaican flag.

Yeah, the more I scrolled the more I saw of other nation's flags, like a backwards South African flag and the Jamaican one, and lots of crosses and so on.

 

[Ben]

What I'm guessing will be @Ben 's favorite
View attachment 34335

I do approve of this.

But it could certainly be pahking a cah in Havahd yahd while flipping off another driver and wearing red socks. Also in Bruins colors.

 

[A Stud-Finder]

I do approve of this.

But it could certainly be pahking a cah in Havahd yahd while flipping off another driver and wearing red socks. Also in Bruins colors.

View attachment 34397

That's a good one for sure. Gotta make sure it's the right dino though. The one in the original pic is actually the state dinosaur of Massachusetts, Podokesaurus Holyokensis.

 

[Ben]

That's a good one for sure. Gotta make sure it's the right dino though. The one in the original pic is actually the state dinosaur of Massachusetts, Podokesaurus Holyokensis.

Yeah, I know. ChatGPT just didn't get it super accurate and I didn't care to work on it that much.

Before I took out the text it gave me this, but still made a typo.

 

[A Stud-Finder]

Holyokenis

 

[dimmerwit]

"Fun" fact: Jamaica has the only national flag without any shade of red, white or blue on it.

Also on a serious take I think the simple flag rules that people and organisations such as the North American Vexillological Association promote are too rigid and often make for forgettable designs. I agree with the principle and I think that the whole lazy state seal on blue/white background that many states use sucks (the Nebraskan flag famously flew upside down at their capitol for days before anyone noticed), but let's not pretend like there aren't some great examples that don't follow all the rules, such as California.

 

[A Stud-Finder]

"Fun" fact: Jamaica has the only national flag without any shade of red, white or blue on it.

Also on a serious take I think the simple flag rules that people and organisations such as the North American Vexillological Association promote are too rigid and often make for forgettable designs. I agree with the principle and I think that the whole lazy state seal on blue/white background that many states use sucks (the Nebraskan flag famously flew upside down at their capitol for days before anyone noticed), but let's not pretend like there aren't some great examples that don't follow all the rules, such as California.

Some are pretty boring, for sure. But also when you think of state flag designs, up until recently, probably the one that would pop into most people's head first: Texas. It's a super simple and memorable design.

Others are good for sure. Utah is an example of a recent change that works great. Minnesota is an improvement on their old one, but not as good as Utah. Oregon should ditch the front of their flag ans use only the Beaver side.


Also, finalists revealed.

Massachusetts decides on finalists for new state flag, seal and motto to replace controversial ones

Massachusetts has unveiled the finalists for the new state seal, flag and motto.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[Ben]

Oregon should ditch the front of their flag ans use only the Beaver side.

Usually the beaver is on the front. The butthole is on the back.

Oregon, you crazy.

 

[Kat]

IMO you should be able to draw a flag freehand pretty easily. Almost every state flag and even our national flag have waaay too much stuff going on.

Yes, Oregon's flag is terrible. I couldn't even tell you what the picture on the front is supposed to be.

 

[Crystal]

Yes, Oregon's flag is terrible. I couldn't even tell you what the picture on the front is supposed to be.

The fact it doesn't just say "You have died of dysentery" and "you have cholera" is such a wasted opportunity...

 

[dimmerwit]

Some are pretty boring, for sure. But also when you think of state flag designs, up until recently, probably the one that would pop into most people's head first: Texas. It's a super simple and memorable design.

True. But I have to wonder how much of that was because it stood out as good design amongst a sea of crap?

Also, whilst it hasn't really mattered one iota, it's very similar to Chile's. I've seen people and even brands confuse the two.

IMO you should be able to draw a flag freehand pretty easily. Almost every state flag and even our national flag have waaay too much stuff going on.

This is one of the requirements I disagree with. Why is there even a need to draw flags? California's flag is great even as it's very difficult to draw. I think there's some correlation between good flags and ease of drawing but it's too imperfect to fully rely on, and it can lead to boring, featureless flags.

 

[A Stud-Finder]

True. But I have to wonder how much of that was because it stood out as good design amongst a sea of crap?

Also, whilst it hasn't really mattered one iota, it's very similar to Chile's. I've seen people and even brands confuse the two.



This is one of the requirements I disagree with. Why is there even a need to draw flags? California's flag is great even as it's very difficult to draw. I think there's some correlation between good flags and ease of drawing but it's too imperfect to fully rely on, and it can lead to boring, featureless flags.

Being easy to draw makes it easy to distinguish. Most states are far too complex because they're all their state seal on a sea of blue (MA is currently the state seal on white, so it sticks out that way).

I think it means more "if a child can crudely draw it and you can tell what it is" rather than purely "easy to draw"

The bear on the California flag is hard to draw, but a kid could draw a simple version of a bear and you'd get the point. When the details are so tiny in how they differentiate it it's bad. When the details take it from "that's a shitty bear" to "that's a cool AF bear" they're good.

 

[Ben]

and it can lead to boring, featureless flags.

I read this too quickly and thought you said "boneless flags" for a moment.

 

[A Stud-Finder]

I read this too quickly and thought you said "boneless flags" for a moment.

Boneless flags need to be livened up with some BBQ sauce to enhance the design.

 

[dimmerwit]

I think it means more "if a child can crudely draw it and you can tell what it is" rather than purely "easy to draw"

The bear on the California flag is hard to draw, but a kid could draw a simple version of a bear and you'd get the point. When the details are so tiny in how they differentiate it it's bad. When the details take it from "that's a shitty bear" to "that's a cool AF bear" they're good.

I agree, but she did cite the US flag which would definitely qualify under your rule.

 

[A Stud-Finder]

I agree, but she did cite the US flag which would definitely qualify under your rule.

Oh, fair. I mean the US flag is really too busy, but it can easily crudely be drawn and get the point across as identifiable. The Liberian flag is a better US flag though.

 

[Crystal]

The Hawaiian flag is a better US flag

 

[dimmerwit]

Oh, fair. I mean the US flag is really too busy, but it can easily crudely be drawn and get the point across as identifiable. The Liberian flag is a better US flag though.

True. I like watching track and field and there's a Liberian guy who runs the 200 with all the Americans.



Definitely works better with the relative lack of pixels!

 

[A Stud-Finder]

The Hawaiian flag is a better US flag

It is, actually. Lol.

Still busy, but pretty easy to draw and good in a funny way.

Anyway I don't know which of the 3 finalists I prefer. I know they're likely to be edited slightly before being implemented, but I'm not sure I love any of them. For some reason I don't seem to like the crimson background on the third one. The Mayflower one is like a worse version of the Mississippi flag that was rolled out a few years ago.

The other one I guess could work, but it feels a bit much on the stripes for water. Maybe tone those down a bit.

 

[Ben]

True. I like watching track and field and there's a Liberian guy who runs the 200 with all the Americans.

View attachment 34422

Definitely works better with the relative lack of pixels!

 

[A Stud-Finder]

Flags

 

[Crystal]

 

[shortkut]

View attachment 34445

 

[Kat]

This is one of the requirements I disagree with. Why is there even a need to draw flags? California's flag is great even as it's very difficult to draw. I think there's some correlation between good flags and ease of drawing but it's too imperfect to fully rely on, and it can lead to boring, featureless flags.

Being easy to draw makes it easy to distinguish. Most states are far too complex because they're all their state seal on a sea of blue (MA is currently the state seal on white, so it sticks out that way).

I think it means more "if a child can crudely draw it and you can tell what it is" rather than purely "easy to draw"

Basically this. It's not about the drawing so much as the simplicity. Flags are a lot like logos in a way. They're used in large formats which are seen from a distance and also as small symbols as an identifier (see the screenshot illustrating how terrible the USA flag is in that case). They flap in the wind when on a flag pole, so you can't see all the details, just the major components. It's uncommon to see a large flag up close while it's still. Having a complex, busy pattern isn't suited for the use cases of a flag.

It doesn't really matter for state flags, who cares if you ever see one or recognize it when you do, but that's only because state flags are pointless in general. It doesn't make a bad flag design better.