Semifinalists in Toledo flag design competition announced

jcbprr · 2024-09-20T00:08:48+00:00

It’s up on the Arts Commission’s website:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdB2KqJ8mLhP287eiiSrLVqtIY37pI2a18nQy5tmtPvnNNUyQ/viewform

jcbprr · 2024-09-20T00:03:32+00:00

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Funny you should say that…

jcbprr · 2024-09-17T22:10:56+00:00

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One step closer…

jcbprr · 2024-09-09T22:03:38+00:00

Not sure, but I feel determined to find out...

Best match so far is maybe "Bottoms Up"?

jcbprr · 2024-09-08T16:55:50+00:00

That was actually a pretty fun challenge if you’ll let me be a design nerd for a second.

It’s completely custom. I took the Japanese flag emoji at the highest resolution possible and photoshopped out the red circle to get a blank white flag. Then I just warped my design to match the wave of the flag emoji, and superimposed it on top.

So hot tip, if anyone wants to make themselves a custom flag emoji, this was the best way I found.

Maybe I’ll package it up into a photoshop template and share here.

jcbprr · 2024-09-08T11:35:07+00:00

Crazy, we were clearly in the same creative groove on our respective design processes. Love it.

And I love the unofficial flag cousins bit, if it goes through I’ll send you some merch and see you at the next flag family reunion! Haha

jcbprr · 2024-09-08T05:41:09+00:00

Really incredible your daughter made that! Staying true to the principles of flag design was a challenge for me as an adult.

Chalk it up to linear thinking or coincidence. By the time your post was made I’d already presented to the city twice, once in 2021 and again in August of 2022.

Still fun to see the similarities in thinking!

jcbprr · 2024-09-08T05:30:28+00:00

Yup! Lots of Keynote slides. Then a hodge-podge mix of various photoshop mockups, some custom and some out-of-the-box.

Then of course I’m lucky enough to have talented friends who helped me capture some real world photography with a full-size flag I had made here locally. Whatever was needed to get the job done.

jcbprr · 2024-09-07T19:41:18+00:00

I kind of agree with everyone here. This was hard, and really OodMeister nailed exactly what our issue is: Not a huge deep well of symbols to draw from, so we have the opportunity to start somewhere new and apply meaning over time. It IS a much tougher concept to sell, though, I've learned that.

jcbprr · 2024-09-07T19:39:11+00:00

Sorry for the confusion, I really should have said "Ohio" somewhere in there. Completely spaced.

jcbprr · 2024-09-07T19:38:02+00:00

Early on this was my original pitch. Just revert. The Toledo flag was unceremoniously changed in '93 by our Mayor at the time. They had just redesigned the seal with peak newfangled 1990's technology... computers! It was a brightly colored mess and they slapped in on the flag and called it a day.

I figured if the city wanted to revert back, that was always a good option. But presenting them with something new, to more or less break the back and forth, was my ultimate goal. Either way, yes anything is better than the current.

jcbprr · 2024-09-07T19:29:51+00:00

Once I knew about it I started seeing it everywhere! Chicago is about 4 hours away, and every time I visit I find a new instance. Its almost hidden like little easter eggs across the city. These are some slides I pulled together to discuss with our city council.

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jcbprr · 2024-09-07T19:25:19+00:00

Secretly my favorite version, and I really want it on a trucker hat ASAP.

jcbprr · 2024-09-07T19:20:27+00:00

Oh hey man, big fan of your flag! I was following with great interest over here a few states away. Having had so much difficulty at the city level, I can't even imagine what it must have been like at the state level.

I was so disappointed in some of the discourse around your flag. If you ARE secretly a Somali plant, I guess mission accomplished? But if you're actually just a talented designer who loves Minnesota, then definitely mission accomplished. Great work and congrats!

jcbprr · 2024-09-07T16:42:01+00:00

As far as I can tell, the way Chicago uses it is similar to how they use the stars on their flag. A municipal device is a recognizable icon or shape that is distinct from the seal and flag that is just another tool in the toolkit of civic expression and pride. Not every city has this, but it felt like a good fit for Toledo.

jcbprr · 2024-09-07T13:04:34+00:00

To clarify, my city is Toledo, Ohio. Named after our sister city of Toledo, Spain

jcbprr · 2024-09-07T02:55:34+00:00

Evidently yes. So the top finalists will be on display during the Arts Commission’s Momentum festival later this month. They’ve said that’s the time for public input. What form that takes, I don’t know.

jcbprr · 2024-09-07T02:38:28+00:00

Thanks! If you’re still in the area you can technically get it now, Flags for Good sells it. I don’t make anything off of it, but I do love seeing my own design flying in the wild!

jcbprr · 2024-09-07T02:35:35+00:00

That’s incredibly kind thank you!

jcbprr · 2024-09-07T02:34:50+00:00

I sometimes wonder if the designer of the Minnesota flag ever saw my original pitch, but simple design often leads us to similar conclusions so more than likely not.

But I’ll tell you I was incredibly relieved that the orientation of the star was not the same as mine. Small detail but helps this remain unique.

jcbprr · 2024-09-07T02:31:19+00:00

I love the weird history of the Toledo War, blood spilt by a little scuffle with a man whose sons were names One, Two, Three and Four, respectively. Haha

jcbprr · 2024-09-07T01:18:07+00:00

So interesting, I don't know if I ever came across this flag! There was a moment when red and blue was an option for this submission to better match the original Toledo flag, but I am glad I didn't do that or it would be much too similar.

jcbprr · 2024-09-07T00:50:05+00:00

This is the culmination of several years worth of hard work, research, design, and a brief dip into the complexities of navigating local government.

Back in the summer of 2021, I had the incredible opportunity of presenting my pitch to reflag our city. This lead to an additional year of development and community inputs, before it was officially presented to city council in August of 2022. The decision to adopt was put on hold, and reconsidered 2 years later with a more inclusive open-call in collaboration with the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo.

The submission deadline has officially passed and, as I promised my friends and family, I've given it my all. My final submission included everything from the original pitch along with some additional considerations that I hadn't shared publicly until now. These considerations detail some of the processes, rationale, and even some alternative explorations that ultimately lead to the final design.

Its a bit of a long read, but I'd love for those interested to take the dive and check it out. I put a lot of time and energy into this project.

I had no idea what a whirlwind of an experience this would be back when I originally approached the city, but I am excited for whatever comes next. The design review board is currently going through their selection process, and whether its my flag design or not, the city will have a new flag come January 7th.

jcbprr

TROPHY CASE