A quick rant about state flags
Of the fifty state flags, roughly half of them are the same design: a state seal on a blue bedsheet. States adopted flags in a rush around 1900 and most just did the most uninspired and easiest thing (politicians, right?) This is not my hot take...it's the most common criticism in flag design. Seals are made to be read at two inches on paper. Not at two hundred feet, in the wind, from a moving car.
The good ones are unmistakable and you probably already know them. New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, Maryland, Colorado, Texas, and now Minnesota and Utah all pass the only tests that matter:
- Can you draw it from memory
- Can you spot it at a distance?
- Can it do its job of communicating in any weather or wind?
(and if you think the states are rough, wait until you meet city flags.)
We sell official state flags (the good ones at least) AND we design better versions for the states that need one. Both live here on this collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state has the best flag?
New Mexico won the North American Vexillological Association survey of all fifty state flags: one symbol, two colors, no words. **chef's kiss**
Why do so many state flags have a seal on a blue background?
Most states adopted flags between 1890 and 1920, usually for a world's fair or a centennial. The fastest way to get one passed was to just drop the existing seal onto a blue field. It worked...and then nobody revisited it for a hundred years. Recently, there has been a push to fix this and (most) people are stoked!
Which states have changed their flags recently?
Mississippi in 2020, then Utah and Minnesota both in 2024. Maine voted that same November on going back to its 1901 pine tree flag and it did not pass (so it remains one of the best flags everyone flies and buys at souvenir shops but is still not "official"). Several other states have live redesign conversations happening right now.
Do you sell the official flag or a redesign?
We sell the state flags of the ones that are well designed (there isn't much demand for the seals on bedsheets anyway). Our Better State Flags are clearly marked as redesigns, for people who want something better than a seal on a bedsheet.
