flags of tomorrow

How can I portrait a more realistic image of a nation by redesigning its national flag?

This world and its inhabitants are facing a number of threats and challenges. Most of them are caused by human behaviour. The most imminent being global warming and other environmental issues, geopolitics and increased split between, and even within, nations and social issues such as racism and poverty.

During times like these it is important that everyone, individuals as well as nations, reflect over the current situation or status and what can be done in response to these threats and ­challenges.

The first step towards change is being aware that there are things that need to change. I believe national flags are the most prominent representations of nations. Maybe a national flag can be used to increase people’s awareness about important environmental and social factors. Perhaps that could encourage and guide both authorities and citizens to improve the society and even the world. Merely the discussion of designing a new national flag could start an important discussion about values, identity and image of the nation. If I was to encourage a dialogue about necessary change with a flag, what could such a flag look like?

Below I will introduce a design proposal where I have redesigned national flags of three Nordic countries; Iceland, Norway and Sweden. A redesign that conveys information and sends a clear message that signals to the world about each nation’s status on how the country is doing with regard to important environmental and social aspects. I will also introduce a book I made to convey the background, ideas, process and thoughts of the project to generate a deeper understanding for those interested.

However, a suggestion like this is only theoretical, or even utopian, and meant to question our ways because a healthy self-image is not only acknowledging one’s strength but also the flaws.

The words represented in the Norwegian flag are mountains & fjords, democracy, clean energy and oil

White – is the renewable energy that is the main source of energy in the country.
Red triangle – symbolises the democracy.
Red & white – together form the mountains.
Blue – is the fjords, sea and rivers of Norway.
Black – symbolises the oil that is extracted and exported.
Black & white – the combination of those symbolise the renewable energy – oil paradox.

The words represented in the Swedish flag are democracy, generosity, racism and nature

White – symbolises ethnic Swedes.
Black – symbolises people of other ethnical backgrounds.
Black & white – the white pushes the black colour to the edges as a symbolism for racism.
Blue – is the nature – the rivers, lakes and mountains.
Yellow – symbolises generosity.
Tilting triangle – symbolises the democratic imbalance between ethnic groups.

The words represented in the Icelandic flag are contrasts, nature, corruption, isolation and environmental issues

White – symbolises the melting glaciers caused by climate change.
Red – symbolises the volcanic activity in the island.
Black – symbolises the corruption in the Icelandic society and environmental issues.
Blue – is for the Atlantic ocean that surrounds the island and isolates it.
Black & white, red & blue – the combination of those symbolise the contrasts in the Icelandic nature.
Horizontal line – the horizon is very evident in Iceland.

The prototype of the book is hand-bound with a simple pamphlet binding. The book is in A5 format and printed on Munken Polar paper. The book is being printed in 20 copies.

The book includes chapters that introduce the concept, history of flags, symbolism of flags, the Nordic flags, the Nordic image and the dark sides of the Nordic nations as well as a thorough explanation of the words chosen to represent each nation and their flags symbolism.