3 October 2023
ST. PAUL A commission tasked with creating a new Minnesota flag and official seal is taking public design submissions this month as the state works toward adopting new symbols.
Earlier this year, Minnesota lawmakers approved a plan to change the state flag, which has long been criticized for its unmemorable design and depiction of white settlers displacing the region’s Native inhabitants.
Now, after decades of criticism and advocacy at the Capitol, the old “state seal on a bed sheet” design will become history, and Minnesotans have a chance to submit their own proposals for its replacement.
The 13-member State Emblems Redesign Commission started its work last month and will have to settle on designs for the seal and flag by the end of the year.
“Public input is vital to the work of the commission and will be sought out both now at the start of our process and later as we narrow down the submissions to five which will receive final consideration,” Secretary of State Steve Simon said in a news release announcing the submission period. “I look forward to seeing the creativity and passion of Minnesotans shine.”
From now until Oct. 30, people 18 or older can submit designs through the commission’s website or by mail. People under 18 can submit designs through a parent or guardian.
Designs can be submitted through a form on the commission’s website. Proposals “must accurately and respectfully reflect Minnesota’s shared history, resources, and diverse cultural communities.”
While there’s plenty of work ahead for the commission, it has adopted a general framework for how the flag and seal should look. Objectives include simplicity, symmetry and enduring appeal. The guidelines draw from what flag design enthusiasts, sometimes called vexillologists, say makes a good flag.
Guidelines call for the flag to be recognizable from a distance and have a design so simple a child could draw it from memory. Minnesota’s current flag, adopted in 1893, is built around the state’s seal and resembles the flag of 20 other states.
Blue, green and white top the list of colors preferred by the commission for the new flag, as they represent the state’s “natural beauty.” Other acceptable colors are red and yellow, as they can represent the state’s “vitality.” Designs should have a maximum of three to four colors.
The guidance further states that the flag’s images, icons, colors and patterns should have symbolic value. Designs should honor the state’s history, but also represent “inclusivity and unity” and the state’s values and aspirations.
Flag designs should be symmetrical “to a degree” and should have standard 3-by-5 flag proportions. However, a different shape that accentuates a distinct design could be considered, guidance notes.
The commission won’t consider flag and seal designs that include symbols and likenesses representing “only a single community or person, regardless of whether real or symbolized.” Entries with obscene or profane wording or imagery will be discarded.
Designers can submit both flag and seal designs. Seal designs should be clear and straightforward, represent state values, and “resonate with today’s citizens while honoring the state’s past,” guidance states.
Much like the flag designs, proposed new seals should feature symbolism and colors that draw from the state’s natural environment and history. They should also strive to promote inclusivity and represent all communities and cultures of the state.
The commission recommends designers research Minnesota’s history, cultures, natural landscapes and diversity to guide their redesign efforts.
Submissions must include the following information:
Eligible participant’s name, mailing address, email and phone number Digital file of design in JPG or PNG format no larger than five megabytes or, for mail submissions, a design for a new state flag or state seal no larger than 8 by 11 inches A brief statement on the rationale for the design, explaining the design choices, highlighting how they meet the project objectives and represent Minnesota A very brief statement, no more than 100 words, on the eligible participant’s connection to Minnesota]]>