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Flag design is also a historical process in which current designs often refer back to previous designs, effectively quoting, elaborating, or commenting upon them. Families of current flags may derive from a few common ancestors as in the cases of the [[Pan-African colours]], the [[Pan-Arab colors]], the [[Pan-Slavic colors]], the [[Nordic Cross flag]] and the [[Ottoman flag]].
Flag design is also a historical process in which current designs often refer back to previous designs, effectively quoting, elaborating, or commenting upon them. Families of current flags may derive from a few common ancestors as in the cases of the [[Pan-African colours]], the [[Pan-Arab colors]], the [[Pan-Slavic colors]], the [[Nordic Cross flag]] and the [[Ottoman flag]].

Certain cultures prescribe the proper design of flags, through [[Heraldry|heraldic]] or other authoritative systems. Prescription may be based on religious principles: see, for example, [[Islamic flags]]. As a discipline, vexillology is beginning to promote design principles based on a body of research on flag history and design. Prominent examples are [http://www.nava.org/Flag%20Design/GFBF/index.html Ted Kaye's five ''Good Flag, Bad Flag'' principles] published and endorsed by the [[North American Vexillological Association]]:

# ''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 2–3 Basic Colors:'' that is limit of [[List of flags by number of colors|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 of any kind or an organization’s [[seal (emblem)|seal]].
# ''Be Distinctive or Be Related:'' avoid duplicating other flags, but use similarities to show connections.


==Prominent vexillologists==
==Prominent vexillologists==

Revision as of 20:15, 13 May 2012

For the album by Deadmau5, see Vexillology (album).
Flag of the Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques (International Federation of Vexillological Associations). It depicts a sheet bend knot.

Vexillology is the "scientific study of the history, symbolism[,] and usage of flags or, by extension, any interest in flags in general" (Smith 31) The word is a synthesis of the Latin word vexillum ("flag") and the Greek suffix -logy ("study). It is formally defined by the Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques (FIAV) constitution as "the creation and development of a body of knowledge about flags of all types, their forms and functions, and of scientific theories and principles based on that knowledge."

The term was conceived in 1957 by the American scholar and vexillologist Whitney Smith and first appeared in print in 1959 (12). It was originally considered a sub-discipline of heraldry (Smith 12), and is still occasionally seen as such. A person who studies flags is a vexillologist; a person who designs flags is a vexillographer; and any person who simply likes, admires, or enjoys flags is a vexillophile.

Since 1965, an International Congress of Vexillology (ICV) has been organized every two years under the auspices of FIAV. The 2007 ICV was in Berlin, Germany; the 2009 ICV was in Yokohama, Japan; the 2011 ICV was in Alexandria, Virginia, USA, and the 2013 will be in Rotterdam, The Netherlands (www.nfc2013.com). Internet activity of vexillologists is centered on the Flags of the World website and mailing list.

Flag identification symbols (FIS)

"Flag identification symbol" redirects here. For other uses, see Flag identification symbol (disambiguation).

The Flag Identification System was created by Whitney Smith and adopted by FIAV.

The first row represents use on land and the second use on water, each divided into private (civil), government (state), and military (war) use.

Usage Private use Government use Military use
Land use Civil flag State flag War flag
Sea use Civil ensign State ensign War ensign

There are 63 representing symbols that can describe the flag, including:

FIS Text mode Description Usage
C**/*** Civil flag by private persons on land
*S*/*** State flag by state institutions on land
**W/*** War flag by military on land (army)
***/C** Civil ensign on private vessels (merchant ensign)
***/*S* State ensign on state owned vessels
***/**W War ensign by navy
CS*/*** Civil and state flag by private persons and state on land
*SW/*** State and war flag by state services and military on land
CSW/*** National flag for all purposes on land
***/CSW National ensign for all purposes on vessels
CSW/CSW National flag and ensign for all purposes on land and sea

Other symbols are used to describe other aspects of the usage of the flag, such as official status and which side of the flag is being shown. The ones in general use are:

FIS Description
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Normal or de jure version of flag, or obverse side
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Design proposed but not officially adopted
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Design is a reconstruction based on observations
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Reverse side of flag
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Design is an acceptable variant
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Alternative version of flag
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag De facto version of flag
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Flag has different designs on its obverse side and its reverse side
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Obverse side meant to be hoisted with pole to the observer's right
Design officially authorized to represent nation by government of that nation Design officially authorized to represent nation by government of that nation
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Design used in the past, but now abandoned (not part of Smith's original set)
Reverse side is mirror image of obverse side Reverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Reverse side is congruent with obverse side Reverse side is congruent with obverse side
Information on reverse side is not available Information on reverse side is not available
Flag can be hung vertically by hoisting on a normal pole, then turning the pole 90° Flag can be hung vertically by hoisting on a normal pole, then turning the pole 90°
Flag can be hung vertically by rotating the design first Flag can be hung vertically by rotating the design first
Vertical hoist method of flag is unknown Vertical hoist method of flag is unknown
Design has no element that can be rotated Design has no element that can be rotated
Flag can be hoisted vertically only Flag can be hoisted vertically only

Principles of flag design

Flag designs exhibit a number of regularities, arising from a variety of practical concerns, historical circumstances, and cultural prescriptions that have shaped and continue to shape their evolution.

First among the practical issues confronting a vexillographer is the necessity for the design to be manufactured (and often mass produced) into or onto a piece of cloth, which will subsequently be hoisted aloft in the outdoors to represent an organization, individual, idea, or group. In this respect, flag design departs considerably from logo design: logos are predominantly still images to be read off a page, screen, or billboard, while flags are alternately draped and fluttering images to be seen from a variety of distances and angles. The prevalence of simple bold colors and shapes in flag design attests to these practical issues.

Flag design is also a historical process in which current designs often refer back to previous designs, effectively quoting, elaborating, or commenting upon them. Families of current flags may derive from a few common ancestors as in the cases of the Pan-African colours, the Pan-Arab colors, the Pan-Slavic colors, the Nordic Cross flag and the Ottoman flag.

Certain cultures prescribe the proper design of flags, through heraldic or other authoritative systems. Prescription may be based on religious principles: see, for example, Islamic flags. As a discipline, vexillology is beginning to promote design principles based on a body of research on flag history and design. Prominent examples are Ted Kaye's five Good Flag, Bad Flag principles published and endorsed by the North American Vexillological Association:

  1. Keep It Simple: the flag should be so simple that a child can draw it from memory.
  2. Use Meaningful Symbolism: the flag’s images, colors, or patterns should relate to what it symbolizes.
  3. Use 2–3 Basic Colors: that is limit of the number of colors on the flag to three, which contrast well and come from the standard color set.
  4. No Lettering or Seals: never use writing of any kind or an organization’s seal.
  5. Be Distinctive or Be Related: avoid duplicating other flags, but use similarities to show connections.

Prominent vexillologists

  • E.M.C. Barraclough, Laureate of FIAV and author of Flags of the World
  • Ralph Bartlett, leader in the Flag Society of Australia; Secretary-General for Congresses (1989–1997) and Fellow of FIAV; and expert on flags of aspirant peoples
  • Graham Bartram, Chief Vexillologist and Fellow of the Flag Institute; Secretary-General for Congresses (1999–present) of FIAV; and author of British Flags and Emblems, Flags of All Nations (BR20), and Flying Flags in the United Kingdom
  • Bruce B. Berry, founder member of the Southern African Vexillological Association (SAVA); editor of the SAVA Journal and SAVA Newsletter; Secretary-General for Congresses (1997–1999) and Fellow of FIAV; and collector of Rhodesian and South African flags
  • Hugh Boudin, Belgian vexillologist and President (1981–1993) and Fellow of FIAV
  • Aleš Brožek, Czech vexillologist, recipient of FIAV’s 1997 Vexillon, and Fellow of FIAV
  • Andries Burgers, recipient of FIAV’s 2009 Vexillon and author of The South African Flag Book: The History of South African Flags from Dias to Mandela
  • Devereaux D. Cannon, Jr., founder of the Confederate States Vexillological Associationand author of The Flags of the Confederacy and The Flags of the Union
  • William Crampton, founder of the Flag Institute; recipient of FIAV’s 1991 Vexillon; Secretary-General for Congresses (1983–1989), President (1993–1997), Fellow, and Laureate of FIAV; and author of many editions of Flags of the World
  • Emil Dreyer, president of Société Suisse de Vexillologie and Secretary-General (1991–1997) and Fellow of FIAV
  • Petr Exner, recipient of FIAV’s 2005 Vexillon and author of Vexilologický lexikon – vlajky obcí České republiky
  • Prof. Scot Guenter, academic vexillologist; past president (1991–1994) and honorary member of NAVA; Fellow and Laureate of FIAV; and author of The American Flag, 1777–1924: Cultural Shifts from Creation to Codification
  • Kevin Harrington, president of the Canadian Flag Association; Fellow of FIAV; and editor of Flagscan
  • Don Healy, past president (1989–1991) of NAVA; researcher of U.S. tribal flags; recipient of FIAV’s 1999 Vexillon; and author of Flags of the Native Peoples of the United States and Native American Flags (with Peter Orenski)
  • Ted Kaye, editor of NAVA's Raven: A Journal of Vexillology (1996–present) and compiler of Good Flag, Bad Flag
  • Roman Klimes, Czech founder of the World Vexillological Research Institute; Fellow of FIAV; and author of Freie Stadt Danzig – Flaggen, Wappen und Siegel (1920–1939)
  • Marc Leepson, author of Flag: An American Biography
  • Michel Lupant, Belgian vexillologist; founder of the Centre Belgo-Européen d'Études des Drapeaux; full member of the Conseil d'héraldique et de vexillologie de la Communauté française de Belgique; President (1997–present) of FIAV; and author of many publications including reference works on flags of police and fire services
  • Howard M. Madaus, recipient of FIAV’s 2007 Vexillon and author of The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord & Conflict
  • David B. Martucci, past president (1998–2004) of NAVA and expert in U.S. historical flags
  • Louis Mühlemann, Swiss vexillologist and cofounder, Fellow, and President (1969–1973) of FIAV
  • Ottfried Neubecker, German vexillologist; President (1973–1981), Secretary-General (1981–1983), Fellow, and Laureate of FIAV; and author in 1939 of the German navy Flaggenbuch
  • Bruce Nicolls, recipient of FIAV’s 1989 Vexillon, Fellow of FIAV, and author of Practical Aspects of Designing, Making and Flying Flags
  • Armand Nöel du Payrat, French vexillologist; recipient of FIAV’s 2001 Vexillon; and editor of Album des Pavillons
  • Anne M. Platoff, recipient of FIAV’s 2011 Vexillon and author of Russian Regional Flags: The Flags of the Subjects of the Russian Federation and Where No Flag Has Gone Before: Political and Technical Aspects of Placing a Flag on the Moon
  • George H. Preble, American naval admiral and author in 1872 of History of the American Flag
  • John M. Purcell, past president (1981–1983) and honorary member of NAVA; recipient of FIAV’s 2005 Vexillon; Fellow of FIAV; and principal author of American City Flags: 150 Flags from Akron to Yonkers
  • María José Sastre y Arribas, recipient of FIAV’s 1993 Vexillon and author of Diccionario de Vexilología and Normas de Descripción y Codificación Vexilologíca
  • Rudolf Siegel, author in 1912 of Die Flagge
  • Klaes Sierksma, founder of the Stichting voor Banistiek en Heraldiek; cofounder, Fellow, and Secretary-General for Congresses (1969–1981) of FIAV; and author of numerous books on flags, including a annotated English edition of the world's first flag manuscript Flags of the World 1699-1670
  • Whitney Smith, founder of the Flag Research Center; editor of the Flag Bulletin; founder, past president (1967–1977), and honorary member of NAVA; recipient of FIAV’s 2007 Vexillon; cofounder, Secretary-General (1969–1981, 1983–1991), Secretary-General for Congresses (1981–1983), Fellow, and Laureate of FIAV; author of Flags Through the Ages and Across the World, The Flag Book of the United States, and The American Flag: Two Centuries of Concord & Conflict; and coiner in 1957 of the word vexillology
  • Charles A. Spain, Jr., Texas vexillologist, past president (1996–1998) of NAVA; founder of the Vexillological Association of the State of Texas; Secretary-General (1997–present) of FIAV; and author of The Flags and Seals of Texas
  • Alfred Znamierowski, Polish-born founder of the Flag Design Center; recipient of FIAV’s 2003 Vexillon; Fellow of FIAV; and author of The World Encyclopedia of Flags

Prominent vexillographers

See also

References

Smith, Whitney. Flags Through the Ages and Across the World New York: McGraw-Hill, 1975. Print.

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