CincyFlags FAQ
How come my neighborhood’s name isn’t spelled out on the Flag?
Good question! Each designer followed the five rules of good flag design from the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA), written by Ted Kaye. Rule four specifically says that a good flag does not include letter or seals.
The rest of the rules are:
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. Limit the number of colors on the flag to three which contrast well and come from the standard color set…
No Lettering or Seals. Never use writing on any kind or an organization’s seal…
Be Distinctive or Be Related. Avoid duplicating other flags, but use similarities to show connections…
How come there aren’t more literal illustrations to represent my neighborhood?
Again, good question. Unlike, say, an outdoor wall mural, flags are pretty small in real-life context. Think about a flag waving above a several story building, atop a local CRC flagpole, or hanging from a neighbors porch. The more you squeeze into that tiny little area, the less likely the flag will communicate anything at all! That’s why we stuck to the NAVA rules above.
How did you come up with the designs?
Teams of local designers divided Cincinnati’s 52 neighborhoods into eight districts to split up the work. Over several months, the teams learned about their communities through an online survey, visits, and workshops with stakeholders/citizens. The final flag designs were based on the information gathered through those different channels.
Click here to see the process on our Facebook page timeline.
Click here for a list of the neighborhood workshops.
How will the flags be used?
We hope that residents hang them on their porch and businesses fly them outside. As these are open source, anyone can produce the flags, but we think this is a great fundraiser for neighborhood councils to sell the flags. The National Flag Company will have the designs on file for purchase, but as these are open sources, they could be purchased anywhere.
Will all the flags ever be hung together and will they be used at the Neighborhood Games?
The flags will be hung together at the unveiling party, at each Neighborhood Summit, and yes, at each Cincinnati Neighborhood Games.
Who makes the final choice as to which flag is chosen?
You, the citizens, vote on your favorite flags. The flag with most votes will win. However, that doesn’t mean it will be the final flag. If applicable, designers will consider additional feedback given in the comments sections of the voting form and make necessary adjustments.
When will we see the final design and where can we buy one?
We held the flag unveiling party at Findlay Market on September 27th. it was awesome to see all 52 in one location. The National Flag Company has all 52 flags on file if you would like to order one. Our intent is that neighborhood councils will order the flags in bulk thereby reducing the price of each flag.