Walk into any state capitol building and you’ll see it. That blue rectangle. You know the one. It has a gold circle in the middle, maybe some wheat, a plow, or a lady holding a scale. It’s a "seal on a bedsheet." Honestly, if you took the name of the state off the bottom, most people—even the people living there—wouldn't be able to tell their own flag apart from the one next door. State flags of the United States are currently going through a bit of a mid-life crisis, and frankly, it’s about time.
For decades, we just accepted that state flags were supposed to be boring. They were military relics or bureaucratic afterthoughts. But lately, things are changing. People are realizing that a flag isn't just a piece of fabric for a government office; it's a brand. It's something you want to wear on a t-shirt or stick on your water bottle.
The Good, The Bad, and The "Seal on a Bedsheet"
Designers have a term for the worst offenders: SOBs. It stands for "Seal on a Blue" (or bedsheet). About half of the state flags of the United States fall into this category. Think of Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania, or New Hampshire. They all look the same from twenty feet away. If the wind isn't blowing perfectly, you’re just looking at a blue blob.
Ted Kaye, a vexillologist (that's a fancy word for a flag expert) and author of Good Flag, Bad Flag, has been shouting into the void about this for years. He argues that a flag should be so simple a child can draw it from memory. Can a kid draw the complex coat of arms on the flag of New York? Absolutely not. They’d need a PhD in heraldry and a very fine-tipped pen.
Then you have the winners. Maryland is the wild child of the group. It uses the family arms of the Calverts and Crosslands. It’s bold, it’s black and gold and red and white, and it looks like a medieval knight's fever dream. People in Maryland put that design on everything. Socks, crabs, cars—it doesn't matter. That is the power of a good flag. It creates an identity. New Mexico is another heavy hitter. The Zia sun symbol is simple, striking, and deeply meaningful. It’s arguably the best design in the country because it respects the "five principles" of flag design: simplicity, meaningful symbolism, two to three colors, no lettering, and distinctiveness.
Why Everyone Is Redesigning Their State Flags Right Now
We are in the middle of a Great Redesign. Since 2020, we’ve seen a massive shift in how states view their visual identity. It started largely with Mississippi. For years, Mississippi's flag was a point of intense friction because it featured the Confederate battle emblem. In 2020, they finally retired it and replaced it with the "New Magnolia" flag. It was a massive success. Not only did it remove a symbol of hate, but it gave the state a beautiful, modern icon that people actually wanted to fly.
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Utah followed suit. Their old flag was—you guessed it—a seal on a blue background. It was forgettable. The new version, adopted in 2023, features a stylized beehive (the state symbol) and mountains. It looks like something you’d see on a high-end outdoor gear brand. It’s clean. It’s recognizable.
Minnesota just went through this too. Their old flag was a mess. It literally depicted a pioneer tilling soil while a Native American rode off into the sunset. It was crowded, cluttered, and historically "oof." The new design, which became official in May 2024, is a minimalist nod to the North Star and the state's many lakes.
The Pushback is Real
It isn’t always easy. People hate change. When a state announces a flag redesign, the comments sections of local news sites turn into a war zone. People call the new designs "corporate logos" or "soulless." In Maine, there’s been a massive back-and-forth about returning to the 1901 flag—the one with the simple pine tree and blue star. Supporters love its vintage, "cottagecore" vibe. Critics think it looks like a drawing from a preschooler.
The reality is that state flags of the United States are becoming part of the culture war. But beyond the politics, there is a practical reason for the shift. A bad flag is a wasted marketing opportunity. Texas knows this. The "Lone Star" is one of the most successful brands in history. You see that flag and you immediately think of a specific set of values, a specific landscape, and a specific pride. You can't say the same for Nebraska’s flag, no offense to Nebraskans.
Oregon’s Secret (It’s the Only One Like It)
Did you know Oregon has the only two-sided flag in the Union? It’s true. On the front, you have the standard state seal (yawn). But if you flip it over, there’s a gold beaver. It’s quirky, it’s weird, and it’s very Oregon. In a sea of boring blue rectangles, that beaver is a hero. It’s the kind of detail that makes a flag memorable.
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Washington is another outlier, simply because it’s green. It’s the only state flag with a green field, and it’s the only one that features a real person’s face (George Washington, obviously). Is it a "good" design by professional standards? Not really—putting a portrait on a flag is usually a no-no because it's hard to see from a distance. But at least it isn't blue.
The Logistics of a Great Flag
If you're wondering what actually makes a flag work, you have to look at the physics of it. Flags aren't posters. They flap. They drape. They get dirty.
- The "Wind Test": If there's no wind, a seal-on-a-blue-bedsheet just looks like a dark rag hanging from a pole. A flag with bold, geometric shapes (like Arizona or South Carolina) still communicates its identity even when it's limp.
- The "Distance Test": Can you tell what it is from a football field away? If you have to squint to read the year the state was founded, the flag has failed.
- Color Palettes: Most state flags of the United States use the exact same shades of red, white, and blue. While patriotic, it leads to total visual exhaustion. This is why flags like Alaska's (blue and gold) or New Mexico's (yellow and red) stand out so much.
Alaska’s flag is actually a great story. It was designed by a 13-year-old boy named Benny Benson in 1927. He won a contest. He chose the Big Dipper for strength and the North Star for the future. It’s perfect. It proves that you don't need a committee of bureaucrats to design something meaningful. Sometimes you just need a kid with some crayons and a good idea.
What’s Next for the Stars and Stripes’ Siblings?
More changes are coming. Illinois is currently looking into a redesign. Massachusetts is eyeing its own flag, which has long been criticized for its depiction of a Native American beneath a sword-wielding arm.
We are moving toward a more "logo-centric" era of vexillography. Some purists hate it. They think flags should look like they belong in the 1800s. But the younger generation wants flags that look good on Instagram and laptop stickers. They want symbols they can rally behind.
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When you look at the state flags of the United States, you’re looking at a map of American history—the good, the bad, and the extremely poorly designed. We are slowly pruning the garden, getting rid of the cluttered 19th-century seals and replacing them with icons that actually mean something to the people living under them.
Actionable Insights for the Flag Curious
If you’re a fan of history or design, there are a few things you can do to get involved in this weirdly passionate world:
- Check out the NAVA rankings. The North American Vexillological Association does surveys where they rank flags. It’s a great way to see where your state stands and why.
- Support local designers. Many of the best new flag designs come from local artists, not government agencies. If your state is considering a change, look at the grassroots proposals.
- Learn the symbolism. Before you hate on a "boring" flag, look up the seal. Sometimes the stories are actually cool, even if the execution is terrible. For instance, Virginia’s flag features "Virtus" standing over a fallen tyrant. It’s the only state flag with nudity, and it’s basically a scene of a successful assassination. Hardcore.
- Buy a good flag. If you live in a state with a great flag (South Carolina, looking at you), fly it. The more these good designs are used, the more pressure it puts on the "blue bedsheet" states to catch up.
The evolution of state flags isn't just about aesthetics. It's about how we tell our stories. A flag is a snapshot of what a state thinks is important about itself. As our values change, our flags are finally starting to keep up.
To see the current status of your own state's flag or to view the proposed designs for upcoming votes, you can visit the official state legislature websites or check the latest updates on the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) digital archives. Many states now host public galleries where you can vote on or comment on new designs before they go to a final legislative tally.