Yesterday, New Zealand announced four finalists for its flag redesign contest, which got us thinking about which other places need new flags immediately. The answer was all cities, which tend to have really bad flags. So we asked you, our fair readers, to share the worst city flags to ever ascend a pole. As usual, you didn’t disappoint.
After listening to Roman Mars’ TED Talk on flag design, we were determined to find the most egregious. Like this gem from Provo, Utah (above) which is great in a Centrum Silver kind of way. But Provo is one of the lucky ones. They actually redesigned their flag this year, and it’s pretty nice!
These other cities, though, need to step it up. Let’s take a tour of some of the worst vexillological offenders.
Too Simple
Yes, simple is good, but these are so abstract that they’re meaningless. A flag should be a flag, not an athletic logo. And when did Arby’s move to Calgary?
Calgary, Alberta
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Reno, Nevada
In case you get lost.
Phoenix, Arizona
Clip-Art Fauna
Speaking of birds, there are a lot of birds available as clip-art, which is where all these flags seem to have originated.
San Francisco, California
Vancouver, Washington
Rochester, Minnesota
Geese from the future.
Melbourne, Australia
Made with MacPaint
These flags were proudly designed using the finest Apple products. In 1988.
Round Rock, Texas
Costa Mesa, California
Pocatello, Idaho
COPYRIGHT Worst Flag™ Ever All Rights Reserved ®
Trying Too Hard
Some flag designs just don’t know when to stop. Someone tell these cities that they’re at an 11 and we need them to bring it down to at least a 4.
Sydney, Australia
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Tampa, Florida
Just Plain Confusing
These are where symbolism has gone awry. Seattle’s seems to be made for a city named Goodwill, Toronto’s looks like a butt, and what the hell is up with the fish in Kvalsund?
Seattle, Washington
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Whoever posted this called it Ms. Pac-Man after a bender hahahaha
Toronto, Canada
Kvalsund, Norway
Check out the rest of the flags posted for some real doozies.
Follow the author at @awalkerinLA