39 comments

  • Wes OudshoornWes Oudshoorn, 8 years ago

    We'll colonize Mars in 2025. In 2050 we'll be a seriously multi-planet species. In 2075, a design student will do a "Interplanetary Flag of the Universe" project to show we're one universe.

    And Designer News will post passive-aggressive feedback ;-)

    29 points
  • Eduard GiménezEduard Giménez, 8 years ago

    The UN flag

    14 points
  • Sacha GreifSacha Greif, 8 years ago

    Needs more circles.

    11 points
  • Simon O’SheaSimon O’Shea, 8 years ago

    Fellow Earthicans

    7 points
  • Simon LarocheSimon Laroche, 8 years ago

    Reminds me of when I asked on IRC: "If Earth had it's own flag, what would it be?" and the first and only reply was "A burning flag."

    7 points
  • Tim WilliamsTim Williams, 8 years ago

    Earth Flag

    I liked the simplicity of this one when I saw it on Reddit. Would only work in our solar system though I guess...

    7 points
    • Jacopo ColòJacopo Colò, 8 years ago (edited 8 years ago )

      Flag

      When we leave the solar system, we can always swap it with this one ☝. It’s the diagram from the Voyager’s plaque, it shows the location of the solar system with respect to 14 pulsars :)

      5 points
      • Chris SilvermanChris Silverman, 8 years ago

        These are more in the category of maps, though. What he's done is more philosophical than technical, which I think is the idea of most flag designs.

        5 points
        • Hawke BassignaniHawke Bassignani, 8 years ago

          True, but only in our current understanding of flags. In medieval times, there were metaphors, but mostly heraldry and patterns to represent families so that you could figure out which branch of what family it was. Eventually, that became crests instead of just color/texture/patterns. In certain areas, color is tied to religion (e.g. the prevalence of green/red/black flags in the Middle East).

          Cyprus has a literal map of Cyprus on their flag. Tuvulu’s flag has a star that represents each of the islands. Papua New Guinea’s shows the Southern Cross to indicate its location in the Southern Hemisphere and because it’s usually visible there.

          In short: what I’m saying is that “the idea of flag design” has changed over time. Modern, Western flags are philosophical, but other regions in the world are spiritual… or technical… or literal (maps).

          Also: as I wrote in my above comment, we don’t have to be literal with our flags because we all know what the Earth looks like. If the goal is to represent it to someone or something that has never seen Earth (and doesn’t know where it is), and approach like this has validity.

          2 points
  • Ed AdamsEd Adams, 8 years ago

    Looks like this is a design student's final project, and it's certainly not a bad one.

    I personally had always thought that a flag to represent our planet would just be a picture of the globe, though.

    7 points
    • Bob CBob C, 8 years ago

      I like that he stayed away from a literal global like on the United Nations flag and took a more metaphorical approach. After all flags for countries are rarely geography based either. It also circumvents many issues on what countries should be positioned where. :-)

      10 points
      • Hawke BassignaniHawke Bassignani, 8 years ago

        I think that for a flag that humans will see and care about, it’s great to go metaphor (since we live here; we know what it literally) looks like.

        If an alien came across our flag, I’d rather that it be a picture of our planet with its continents or even a diagram of our solar system… or a star map. It would be clearer to someone/thing that had never been to Earth if it looked like the thing they were looking for.

        (Unless of course the aliens are hostile… in which case, a map to where we live might be bad).

        But this is all assuming that alien organisms see the same light spectrum that we do and are land-walking. (I.e. the UN map is mostly a map of landmasses, but maybe these aliens are water-based… or air-based… or really small or really big?)

        Now I’m just rambling.

        Serious Designer Thoughts

        4 points
    • Laurens SpangenbergLaurens Spangenberg, 8 years ago

      The problem with a globe is that it conflicts with the fact that there are other Earth like planets out there.

      4 points
  • Ivan VásquezIvan Vásquez, 8 years ago

    If only Fun With Flags was still on the "air" so they could discuss this...

    4 points
  • Ryan RocheRyan Roche, 8 years ago

    Aside from the work, the presentation alone for a design student's final project is great. Seeing the treatment of the logo applied in the photographs is executed very well.

    3 points
  • Arthur Lambillotte, 8 years ago

    Interesting video about good and bad flag design: https://youtu.be/pnv5iKB2hl4

    3 points
  • Bevan StephensBevan Stephens, 8 years ago

    This is a really nicely presented final project. Nothing wrong with thinking big. Good work.

    2 points
  • ChrisArchitec t, 8 years ago (edited 8 years ago )

    was compelled to google image search it....

    one seed heritage

    some photography guy

    Not saying has to be original or whatever, just a tough one with simple geometry. Fun little mock up project tho I guess.

    2 points
    • Mike Wilson, 8 years ago (edited 8 years ago )

      The way this is worded makes you sound sore that this guy is getting attention for his work and you are not. How much time did you spend searching Google to try and knock this kid down a peg?

      Constructive criticism is always more helpful. Also, I recommend using your real name on DN, people are less suspicious of your motives if you can stand behind your words.

      7 points
      • ChrisArchitec t, 8 years ago

        geezus. Just dropped the flag into google image search, two seconds, to see what kind of brands/fields applied a similar geometric pattern. Some sort of eco ethical school uniform company, and a photographer. That was the comment - that you're gonna get a number of different meanings/interpretations conveyed from a core shape logo. I'm not knocking the kid down, it's not a Show DN. sor-ry.

        3 points
      • Chris SilvermanChris Silverman, 8 years ago (edited 8 years ago )

        Mike, that's an extremely hostile reaction to what was hardly an offensive comment.

        You miss the little "be nice" slogan they've got plastered all over here?

        3 points
        • Mike Wilson, 8 years ago (edited 8 years ago )

          To me, it read like a subtle accusation of stealing, something I take very seriously and I hate to see a talented young designer become fearful of silly accusations like that (especially when their work is so promising). Fear is a designer's worst enemy. From someone who is not posting with their real name, it came off as very suspicious to me.

          That said, I've edited my comment to remove the snarky tone, which I agree is not necessary to get my point across.

          1 point
  • Henry Doe, 8 years ago (edited 8 years ago )

    Cool concept.

    Would be awesome to see everyone give a go at their interpretation, instead of redesigning instragram

    2 points
  • Abhishek SureshAbhishek Suresh, 8 years ago

    And this would be the mascot for planet earth.

    Image alt

    1 point
  • Mario S, 8 years ago

    Simple idea, nice flag. I would use it.

    1 point
  • Andrew McWattersAndrew McWatters, 8 years ago

    Might want to check to see if there isn't already a similar design registered at whatever relevant department in Alpha Centauri.

    1 point
  • Cody IddingsCody Iddings, 8 years ago

    I think that having an international flag and a united planet would be detrimental to the amount of violence and wars on the earth, which is NOT ok.

    1 point
  • Daniel Robert P, 8 years ago (edited 8 years ago )

    Seven rings make no sense if we want to convey unity. Seven seas is a western oversimplification born in from an era of conquest. This cannot define earth.

    The background cannot be blue (ocean) if the ambition lies in space exploration. The background can only be black or white to put earth in a cosmological context.

    The symbol cannot be easily drawn from memory.

    For me it can only be this one: https://up.kibakoapp.com/X8eIrGvYi4

    1 point
  • Whitney Helpert, 8 years ago

    Vector? Sketch file? Please.

    1 point
  • Spencer HoltawaySpencer Holtaway, 8 years ago

    What.

    0 points