A great flag can give more than just colours to represent a nation. They can start a design system that extends the symbolism, a visual language that represents the country.
This design, with the star and the chevron, gives us a common represenation of Australia, owned by all of us.
The flag's ratio is 1:2, the same dimensions as our current flag. It can be drawn on a simply grid.
Every national flag occasionally needs to work in alternative aspect ratios, at international sporting events, or at the United Nations:
The field of blue has been lightened to better match the palette, to let our blue work better with green and gold. All while keeping a strong connection with our current flag.
We retain our iconic sporting green and gold, picking the green from the iconic Wallabies and baggy green to complete our national palette, keeping the gold of our current colours.
Ten points if you can correctly identify every state and territory flag of Australia. If you can't, maybe it's time for state flags that are distinctive and recognisable.
States and Territories have been making these decisions for themselves for a long time. But here are a few ideas to get us started. Each extends the design system and incorporates the colours of each state and territory:
Got a great design for your state flag?
These design submissions, by Daniel Truslove, give the Australian Defence Force a renewed RAAF Ensign, White Ensign, and gives civilian boats a new Red Ensign.
Believe in a new, unifying symbol for Australia?