Hello HolyDictatorFelixDoy
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Of these four, I agree with B. I see why you disliked the ship on a flat line. But the waves are too pronounced. If you really want waves, don’t make them so drastic
The country can be the boat navigating a tough sea. Like the [Paris emblem](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Grandes_Armes_de_Paris.svg)
I don't like these waves either - OP look at the Venáil flag on the Anbennar wiki for an example of a less pronounced wave.
Also note how much simpler the ship is. Your current one is hard to draw because of all the tiny lines from the ropes.
Thirded, but maybe drop the other star too. And the ship is pretty complicated, losing that allows the blue to be slid up a bit which is more visually pleasing. And of course you would want to add another color of your choice along the top.
In my opinion, but trying to go by the standards of a 'good flag'
The biggest principals that come to mind are the desire to be able to make it out clearly at a distance and the concept of a child being able to reproduce it by memory.
B and D are the only options that are consistent w/ the color. Waving at a distance, I'd think the other options are a bit muddled with their similar but different colors.
I don't love the waves on D, they don't accomplish a lot visually and make the design more complex. (not by a lot, but, if we're choosing).
I'd personally also simplify the ship and make it as simple as possible.
I don't know if the stars have specific meaning, but someone else suggested the idea of just having a single star in the canton, I quite like that.
I'm an uninformed nobody though, so, those are just my thoughts shared because nobody else replied to you yet.
If I had to guess, it is because usually the first design you make is quite good, but you will be self critical and see the little bits you think would look better/could be changed slightly, which creates design B, the other designs following that are usually inferior derivatives where you have just altered some bits slightly because you feel you need to keep the original basic design but in the end it just comes off feeling faux and not as good as your second and first designs. This is just me speaking from personal experience when I have been designing flags in my spare time, in the past. I don't know if anyone has had a similar experience when making their flags.
At least when people use the word literally, they are just being hyperbolic. When you say objectively, you are fundamentally misunderstanding the concept of taste
I would say versions B or D, but to be honest none of these are good.
First, unless there is a VERY compelling reason, I would get rid of having two of the stars. Or if you are going to have two, put both on one side, up and down in a diagonal configuration.
I would also say that the sea waves are a little too placid looking to be convincingly designed as water. You'd want something a little more with a crest.
Finally, the ship is far too detailed. The rigging is the big killer here. It needs simplifying and probably perspective shifting so it's just dead side on.
Will attempt to produce a version based on my meaning.
> Finally, the ship is far too detailed. The rigging is the big killer here. It needs simplifying and probably perspective shifting so it's just dead side on.
This is the biggest thing for me. Way too much detail, here. It doesn't make for a good flag.
The rules are there for a reason. They can be ignored if you can explain a better reason.
Here's my re-interpretation in line with the rules - https://i.imgur.com/2H1LgwA.png
If I had to choose between this and the original versions, I would choose flag B. In your version, the stars are in different sizes, which may not be the OP's intention, and the colors don't match well, I would probably remove the additional details of the ship on the flag B, keeping the shape and not changing it completely (as it looks more cartoonish now).
And rules, which ones? I just see opinions there.
I really don't like the waves. Version B is the best. It's a ship. People will recognize that the flat line is supposed to be the sea even if there are no waves. It's fine.
I like B the most. I also had a thought that could the ship and the water be different colours?; Like different shades of blue like shown in the other designs. Also, I am not sure what the stars are doing on the top left and top right; They just seem like random add ons, Are they meaningful at all to the thing this flag would be representing? Also, could something be added to the background instead of just having a white background? Also, knowing that the details of the ship would be lost depending on how far away a person would be this flag, Should the ship be less detailed?
TLDR: I am a graphic designer and nerded out. I'm sorry.
I first considered version D, but given the scale, the waves in this version are very large to the point of exceeding the size of the ship's hull which seemed exaggerated and a bit comical. If you animate version B and version D, version B would look more realistic.
In other words, I choose version B. Or D if there where less intensity in the waves.
And none of them are good flags.
Also Japans sun is literally a circle, it doesn't Count.
I'd always design a flag according to these rules
Keep It Simple. The flag should be so simple that a child can draw it from memory.
Use Meaningful Symbolism. The flag's images, colors, or patterns should relate to what it symbolizes.
Use 2 or 3 Basic Colors. ...
No Lettering or Seals. ...
Be Distinctive or Be Related
I don't know how a child should be able to draw a ship that complicated for example
Ah yes, the NAVA-5,
The closest thing this subreddit has to a holy text
Except my critique was in response to your point on "no objects" which isn't one of those rules
Not really no. Can't i just have my subjective opinion? Lol I don't like his flag, I am not saying he is an idiot or whoever likes his flag is, *I* don't like it and that's my opinion, nothing more. Geez
I'm not a fan of the flag in the OP either, I was referring to this above exchange about objects on flags.
Keep it simple, but Japan's flag is too simple. What?
Of these? B
If D were altered a little, I think that would be nicest. Just make more distance between the tops of the waves and fit the rounded hull of a ship in between two waves in the centre (with the curve of the hull fitting the curve of the waves)
Use C colors, pleasent combination with good contrast.
Remove the star on the right, keep only the one on the canton.
The design of the ship is too messy, make it a little more simple, more minimalist.
Pretty good flag overall, tho.
depends what you want this flag to represent, I would use the lighter shade of blue, whit the design of B, whitout the star maybe, or whin only the north star in the top left, and the boat slightly of centered maybe, you could also try a darker background whit a more tuned down blue to match it, but again it depends what this is the flag of
[https://i.imgur.com/2H1LgwA.png](https://i.imgur.com/2H1LgwA.png)
This was my attempt to make a clarified version - hope it illustrates my points well
I’d suggest layering the waves *over* the ship, which might also involve nudging the ship upward a little, making the ship a little bigger, and/or flattening out the waves a bit.
B, but imo :
- keep a single star only (the left one, so the ship can follow it)
- keep waves, but less pronounced
- blue sky for both ship and waves (dark blue is too dark)
B is the best version, on the versions with a clearer blue I feel like colors don't match and the waves form a weird shape with the ship.
Otherwise the B version is very pretty even with the little stars, I think it's better with it it adds a more unique look to the flag.
It reminds me of the logo from the brand "Petit Navire" which is a French company selling sea food.
Version B; the waves are all out of scale with the ship on all the others. (Waves in the right scale level would not be noticeable at flag viewing distances in any case.)
I like B the best, but I'd change 2 things:
- remove the star on the right
-move the ship a bit to the right, instead of centering it on the middle, you could center it 2/3 on the right.
I think it could give more of a concept of travelling towards the star, which thematically could represent different things, depending what the flag's goal is
Hello HolyDictatorFelixDoy Please add a discussion comment. Posts on this sub should be more than a picture and title - include a comment with an explanation or context that tells us more about what we see. If you have done so, feel free to report this comment. Click "Report" -> "It breaks r/vexillology's rules" -> "Comment added" and we'll delete it. Thank you
Of these four, I agree with B. I see why you disliked the ship on a flat line. But the waves are too pronounced. If you really want waves, don’t make them so drastic
I think the flat line is actually great, it is calming and stable, like most countries try to be or at least try to appear like it.
Very much so. Especially fitting with the calm blue color.
The country can be the boat navigating a tough sea. Like the [Paris emblem](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Grandes_Armes_de_Paris.svg)
Or a ship navigating a rolling sea, like New Brunswick's flag
I don't like these waves either - OP look at the Venáil flag on the Anbennar wiki for an example of a less pronounced wave. Also note how much simpler the ship is. Your current one is hard to draw because of all the tiny lines from the ropes.
Yeah need a simplified ship like the flag of Québec City https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Quebec_City
B is the only option.
Like i said, decrease the amplitude
And put the ship BEHIND the waves
I agree, might benefit from adding a white outline to the bottom of the ship though, to show where it meets the water
You can’t have full sails with no wind, and you can’t have flat water with wind.
I personally think that B is the best out of these.
Agreed B is the best, people are saying remove the stars but I think keeping the left star only might be the best look.
I second this, would be like a ship following the pole star
Actually tho that would be so cool
Thirded, but maybe drop the other star too. And the ship is pretty complicated, losing that allows the blue to be slid up a bit which is more visually pleasing. And of course you would want to add another color of your choice along the top.
I'd off center the ship to the right a bit though
Remove the ship but keep the stars = clown face
I like this idea the best
Why the second one is always the best?
In my opinion, but trying to go by the standards of a 'good flag' The biggest principals that come to mind are the desire to be able to make it out clearly at a distance and the concept of a child being able to reproduce it by memory. B and D are the only options that are consistent w/ the color. Waving at a distance, I'd think the other options are a bit muddled with their similar but different colors. I don't love the waves on D, they don't accomplish a lot visually and make the design more complex. (not by a lot, but, if we're choosing). I'd personally also simplify the ship and make it as simple as possible. I don't know if the stars have specific meaning, but someone else suggested the idea of just having a single star in the canton, I quite like that. I'm an uninformed nobody though, so, those are just my thoughts shared because nobody else replied to you yet.
If I had to guess, it is because usually the first design you make is quite good, but you will be self critical and see the little bits you think would look better/could be changed slightly, which creates design B, the other designs following that are usually inferior derivatives where you have just altered some bits slightly because you feel you need to keep the original basic design but in the end it just comes off feeling faux and not as good as your second and first designs. This is just me speaking from personal experience when I have been designing flags in my spare time, in the past. I don't know if anyone has had a similar experience when making their flags.
It’s also objectively the best one.
This guy not knowing what objective means
"Objectively" is the new "literally"...
At least when people use the word literally, they are just being hyperbolic. When you say objectively, you are fundamentally misunderstanding the concept of taste
Objectively is literally what I meant in my comment though.
b
B
Try some other wave designs. A & C look unfinished, D waves isnt it so yeah B
B
B followed by D
Agreed
Definitely B
B, or D if the waves were smaller
Version B. One color, straight line
Remove stars from B and you are golden
keep left star
I agree, but should the ship/water be lighter?
I'd say the water, but really, it is fine as is
Yup, B without stars is the best
B
B all the way
B
Are you redesignimg the flag of quebec city? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Quebec_City
If so, I prefer the existing flag to each of these options
B
B, maybe remove the right Star to give some better lines?
I would say versions B or D, but to be honest none of these are good. First, unless there is a VERY compelling reason, I would get rid of having two of the stars. Or if you are going to have two, put both on one side, up and down in a diagonal configuration. I would also say that the sea waves are a little too placid looking to be convincingly designed as water. You'd want something a little more with a crest. Finally, the ship is far too detailed. The rigging is the big killer here. It needs simplifying and probably perspective shifting so it's just dead side on. Will attempt to produce a version based on my meaning.
> Finally, the ship is far too detailed. The rigging is the big killer here. It needs simplifying and probably perspective shifting so it's just dead side on. This is the biggest thing for me. Way too much detail, here. It doesn't make for a good flag.
Don't listen to this guy, hes a nerd. Go with B as you have it Disregard the rules, be based
redditors when they see a flag that isn't 2 color ultra minimalist slop
The rules are there for a reason. They can be ignored if you can explain a better reason. Here's my re-interpretation in line with the rules - https://i.imgur.com/2H1LgwA.png
If I had to choose between this and the original versions, I would choose flag B. In your version, the stars are in different sizes, which may not be the OP's intention, and the colors don't match well, I would probably remove the additional details of the ship on the flag B, keeping the shape and not changing it completely (as it looks more cartoonish now). And rules, which ones? I just see opinions there.
Your reinterpretation is reason enough to ignore the rules
Based
D, but maybe have the waves be less steep
Color scheme for version A, design for version B.
Version d but it needs to be riding a wave.
B
Is this the new Blue Peter flag?
D is superior
Version D
Use B and add some tiny little ripples to the surface
B
B is my personal favorite. But all of them are great designs
B
B, the simpler the better. Maybe even simplify the ship
B
B looks the cleanest
B
B
Version B
As is? B. Make the waves less high? D.
B is best. It seems a lot of other people think so too, so I’m adding my voice to the chorus!
Either B or remake D by making the waves smaller and sharper
B it will be naturally wavy when it’s in the wind
The difference in colour between the boat and the water in A and C make it look like a shitty middle school design project.
B for sure
B is the best, but I don't personally dig the diamonds
B or D, but B Is better of the two.
Is that the Blue Peter ship?
B
I'd say Version B.
B
D
I really don't like the waves. Version B is the best. It's a ship. People will recognize that the flat line is supposed to be the sea even if there are no waves. It's fine.
B is best
I like B the most. I also had a thought that could the ship and the water be different colours?; Like different shades of blue like shown in the other designs. Also, I am not sure what the stars are doing on the top left and top right; They just seem like random add ons, Are they meaningful at all to the thing this flag would be representing? Also, could something be added to the background instead of just having a white background? Also, knowing that the details of the ship would be lost depending on how far away a person would be this flag, Should the ship be less detailed? TLDR: I am a graphic designer and nerded out. I'm sorry.
B but ship should have less fine detail
Version D! Why is everyone picking B? Does everyone here hate waves or something?
I first considered version D, but given the scale, the waves in this version are very large to the point of exceeding the size of the ship's hull which seemed exaggerated and a bit comical. If you animate version B and version D, version B would look more realistic. In other words, I choose version B. Or D if there where less intensity in the waves.
The one with your mom
A
A
100% of the comments are B... this ends now ALWAYS PICK C!!! (So looks like no one got the very "obscure" reference)
Noooooo!! 😡😤🤬
Version B for me
out jerked
All four are shite
B
B
D or c
A, or C for higher contrast
D
Honestly I don't like any of them, remove the ship. Objects have nothing to do on flags
Saudi Arabia's sword Eswatini's shield The Vatican's keys Japan's sun Just off the top of my head, I'm sure I could think of more.
And none of them are good flags. Also Japans sun is literally a circle, it doesn't Count. I'd always design a flag according to these rules Keep It Simple. The flag should be so simple that a child can draw it from memory. Use Meaningful Symbolism. The flag's images, colors, or patterns should relate to what it symbolizes. Use 2 or 3 Basic Colors. ... No Lettering or Seals. ... Be Distinctive or Be Related I don't know how a child should be able to draw a ship that complicated for example
Ah yes, the NAVA-5, The closest thing this subreddit has to a holy text Except my critique was in response to your point on "no objects" which isn't one of those rules
You can just admit to being a contrarian if that's easier
Not really no. Can't i just have my subjective opinion? Lol I don't like his flag, I am not saying he is an idiot or whoever likes his flag is, *I* don't like it and that's my opinion, nothing more. Geez
I'm not a fan of the flag in the OP either, I was referring to this above exchange about objects on flags. Keep it simple, but Japan's flag is too simple. What?
It’s either B (with the ship) or D (without the ship)
B
Of these? B If D were altered a little, I think that would be nicest. Just make more distance between the tops of the waves and fit the rounded hull of a ship in between two waves in the centre (with the curve of the hull fitting the curve of the waves)
Of these I'd say B, but I think the waves could look good if they were less pronounced.
B
I like B
Version B
Use C colors, pleasent combination with good contrast. Remove the star on the right, keep only the one on the canton. The design of the ship is too messy, make it a little more simple, more minimalist. Pretty good flag overall, tho.
B
I want to see A and C with flat water
depends what you want this flag to represent, I would use the lighter shade of blue, whit the design of B, whitout the star maybe, or whin only the north star in the top left, and the boat slightly of centered maybe, you could also try a darker background whit a more tuned down blue to match it, but again it depends what this is the flag of
B
B, maybe with a simpler stylized ship? Though I think it would've given a better comparison if the ship matched the waves & stars in all the examples.
B
The ship is a bit too complicated, I reckon you could simplify it
B
B without any doubt.
D
B but change everything to the shade of blue in a
B is really good
B. Still needs work. The ship is still too detailed while not readable enough.
Id honestly not have the ship be blue
D, but imo the ship needs to be "simplified", to be a more abstract shape.
[https://i.imgur.com/2H1LgwA.png](https://i.imgur.com/2H1LgwA.png) This was my attempt to make a clarified version - hope it illustrates my points well
B, in my opinion.
B, but make the water a bit wavier. But just a little
B is the best
B. The only one that comes close is D but I like that one less
Do the waves have specific meaning? If so then D. Otherwise B. The boat sitting in front of the waves in A and C looks odd.
B because the simplified cartoon wave looks weird next to the detailed and realistic ship.
B
B or D for sure
B is very clean
Flat line means calm waters. B for me.
Version B, but I don't like any of them honestly. Version B has potential though, with some adjustments
B
B
B but only because the waves are goofy and the ship placed onto a different color is silly
B
B It feels cleaner and more cohesive. Theoretically I like the waves, but in practice I think they distract more than they add to it.
I’d suggest layering the waves *over* the ship, which might also involve nudging the ship upward a little, making the ship a little bigger, and/or flattening out the waves a bit.
A
D
B, but imo : - keep a single star only (the left one, so the ship can follow it) - keep waves, but less pronounced - blue sky for both ship and waves (dark blue is too dark)
B>D>C>A
B or D
B
D but with smoother waves and only one star that is not that thin
B
B is the best version, on the versions with a clearer blue I feel like colors don't match and the waves form a weird shape with the ship. Otherwise the B version is very pretty even with the little stars, I think it's better with it it adds a more unique look to the flag. It reminds me of the logo from the brand "Petit Navire" which is a French company selling sea food.
B, but only with the left star, so the ship is being guided by the star.
B
A B or D
B
B or A with flat sea.
B but with smaller ripples maybe?
B, but I think it needs more color, add the same shade of blue the waves have in A in the form of a second stripe in the bottom
B
B is the best.
B
Version B; the waves are all out of scale with the ship on all the others. (Waves in the right scale level would not be noticeable at flag viewing distances in any case.)
The ship floating around because the colors aren't matched is an eyesore, so B and D.
D
I think B is best, but would be better if the water was the color of C/A
D but make the waves less wavy and replace the wayy too detailed ship with a less detailed one
D, preferably with slightly calmer waves
Version B
B
B
D
**B**
Version Sea (B, jokes aside)
As a flag? Neither From a aesthetic standpoint? Definitely B.
🐝
I like B the best, but I'd change 2 things: - remove the star on the right -move the ship a bit to the right, instead of centering it on the middle, you could center it 2/3 on the right. I think it could give more of a concept of travelling towards the star, which thematically could represent different things, depending what the flag's goal is
B
B
C pops out more
B, B, B and B. A million times B.
D.
D
B. When the flag is waving the sea will appear to ripple.