"Milwaukee Flag Design"
Medium: Digital Editing
Size: 30 x 46 cm
Date: November 2015
The main goal I had in mind while designing the Milwaukee flag was to represent Milwaukee in a simple, yet symbolic manner. Utilizing personal experience from living my whole life in Milwaukee, as well as historical research, I created this design inspired by brand and graphic designers Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv. More specifically I was inspired by their NBC logo and its symbolism. I was able to successfully produce my flag through digital manipulation utilizing both Adobe Photoshop CS6 as well as Paint.
Medium: Digital Editing
Size: 30 x 46 cm
Date: November 2015
The main goal I had in mind while designing the Milwaukee flag was to represent Milwaukee in a simple, yet symbolic manner. Utilizing personal experience from living my whole life in Milwaukee, as well as historical research, I created this design inspired by brand and graphic designers Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv. More specifically I was inspired by their NBC logo and its symbolism. I was able to successfully produce my flag through digital manipulation utilizing both Adobe Photoshop CS6 as well as Paint.
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Planning At first I had trouble coming up with an idea as to what to create, I felt that it was quite impossible to represent the city of Milwaukee in a simple yet meaningful manner. I soon discovered it was not impossible, just challenging. I began to look at other cities' flags in order to get an idea of what were considered "good" characteristics for a flag since the Milwaukee flag was considered one of the worst. In order to truly know what a well thought out flag was however, I compared it to the Five Principles of Flag Design (by Roman Mars). Following these five principles, I began to create sketches that were 1 x 1.5 in incorporating various aspects of Milwaukee such as the art museum, a well-known building in the city. I also researched the history of Milawaukee in order to add a historical meaning to the flag as well and discovered that Milwaukee had once prospered through manufacturing as well as brewing beer. I decided to attempt to incorporate this new found information into my flag designs by representing manufacturing with a gear and brewing with barley. After doing a little more profound research into more of Milwaukee's upcoming, I came across Milwaukee's three founders Juneau, Kilbourn, and Walker and the fact that Milwaukee used to be three separate cities (Juneautown, Kilbourntown, and Walker's Point) which united in order to form what is known today as Greater Milwaukee. Research: Milwaukee County Historical Society. 2011. Milwaukee timeline. Retrieved from http://www.milwaukeehistory.net/education/milwaukee -timeline/ |
Inspiration
After meeting in Yale, Ivan Chermayeff and Tom Geismar decided to create their own design company, formerly named Chermayeff&Geismar until 2008 when Sagi Havivi joined the company. Together they have created some of the worlds most well-known logos including that of NBC (seen at left). Created by Chermayeff and Geismar, the logo is not only stunning but also contains a deeper meaning. The six feathers represent the six divisions of NBC and the hidden peacock in the center looking to the right symbolizes how NBC always looks forward and the phrase "proud as a peacock." It is due to this symbolism found within the logo that inspired me to similarly involve this sort of deeper meaning into my own flag. However, like the logo I wanted it to be appealing yet simple enough that anyone could imitate it.
Research :"All about Ivan Chermayeff & Tom Geismar." Logo Design Love. N.p., 21 Apr. 2008. Web. 20 Nov. 2015. <http://www.logodesignlove.com/all-about-chermayeff-and-geismar>.
After meeting in Yale, Ivan Chermayeff and Tom Geismar decided to create their own design company, formerly named Chermayeff&Geismar until 2008 when Sagi Havivi joined the company. Together they have created some of the worlds most well-known logos including that of NBC (seen at left). Created by Chermayeff and Geismar, the logo is not only stunning but also contains a deeper meaning. The six feathers represent the six divisions of NBC and the hidden peacock in the center looking to the right symbolizes how NBC always looks forward and the phrase "proud as a peacock." It is due to this symbolism found within the logo that inspired me to similarly involve this sort of deeper meaning into my own flag. However, like the logo I wanted it to be appealing yet simple enough that anyone could imitate it.
Research :"All about Ivan Chermayeff & Tom Geismar." Logo Design Love. N.p., 21 Apr. 2008. Web. 20 Nov. 2015. <http://www.logodesignlove.com/all-about-chermayeff-and-geismar>.
Process
I began by reviewing my planning sketches and simply choosing certain aspects that I found appealing from each one. I then began my final flag design by going on photoshop and creating a blue background for the flag. The blue would symbolize the Milwaukee river which flows through downtown. I then proceeded by creating a black gear in paint to represent the manufacturing industry that helped Milwaukee thrive. This was challenging as I had to layer circles and rectangles and attempt to maintain all sides symmetrical. However I overcame this by rather than creating new boxes just copying old ones and pasting them. In the end I succeeded and copied the gear into photoshop where I placed it in the upper center of the blue background. I then decide to include the brewery as well by having barley symbolize it. First I took an image of barely and attempted to use the quick select tool in order to crop out the background, however this was difficult with small areas as white space was left over due to poor quick selecting. I overcame this struggle however by using the fill tool in order to fill in any white space with blue and have it blend in with the background. Next I placed the barley under the black gear. Following that, I decide to represent the three original cities and founders with three white stars, therefore I went on Paint and produced 3 identical white stars. The stars were then inserted into photoshop where one was place on the left of the flag, another on the right, and the third right under the gear and barley. I thought I was then done with my flag, however I did not feel satisfied. The flag symbolized Milwaukee's past but I felt it didn't demonstrate the big city it was today. Therefore, I went on Paint once more and produced a slightly larger white star which I then placed in the center of the gear. This star would represent the big city that came to be through the unity of the three smaller cities, the creation of Greater Milwaukee, a city which prospered with manufacturing and breweries.
I began by reviewing my planning sketches and simply choosing certain aspects that I found appealing from each one. I then began my final flag design by going on photoshop and creating a blue background for the flag. The blue would symbolize the Milwaukee river which flows through downtown. I then proceeded by creating a black gear in paint to represent the manufacturing industry that helped Milwaukee thrive. This was challenging as I had to layer circles and rectangles and attempt to maintain all sides symmetrical. However I overcame this by rather than creating new boxes just copying old ones and pasting them. In the end I succeeded and copied the gear into photoshop where I placed it in the upper center of the blue background. I then decide to include the brewery as well by having barley symbolize it. First I took an image of barely and attempted to use the quick select tool in order to crop out the background, however this was difficult with small areas as white space was left over due to poor quick selecting. I overcame this struggle however by using the fill tool in order to fill in any white space with blue and have it blend in with the background. Next I placed the barley under the black gear. Following that, I decide to represent the three original cities and founders with three white stars, therefore I went on Paint and produced 3 identical white stars. The stars were then inserted into photoshop where one was place on the left of the flag, another on the right, and the third right under the gear and barley. I thought I was then done with my flag, however I did not feel satisfied. The flag symbolized Milwaukee's past but I felt it didn't demonstrate the big city it was today. Therefore, I went on Paint once more and produced a slightly larger white star which I then placed in the center of the gear. This star would represent the big city that came to be through the unity of the three smaller cities, the creation of Greater Milwaukee, a city which prospered with manufacturing and breweries.
Reflection
Overall I feel that I accomplished my goal. I set out to produce a new Milwaukee flag that symbolized Milwaukee and its history in a simplistic yet appealing manner which I fee that I have accomplished. Perhaps however, a few changes I may have in my flag would be perhaps not having one solid background but rather instead have another color as well just to have a bit of contrast. Along the lines of time management, I feel that I worked diligently and maneged my time properly as well as produced enough sketches that I had a broad perspective of various possibilities. It is because of this that I feel proud of my final result and feel like I have succeeded in meeting not only my goal but the Principles of Flag Design's criteria as well.
Overall I feel that I accomplished my goal. I set out to produce a new Milwaukee flag that symbolized Milwaukee and its history in a simplistic yet appealing manner which I fee that I have accomplished. Perhaps however, a few changes I may have in my flag would be perhaps not having one solid background but rather instead have another color as well just to have a bit of contrast. Along the lines of time management, I feel that I worked diligently and maneged my time properly as well as produced enough sketches that I had a broad perspective of various possibilities. It is because of this that I feel proud of my final result and feel like I have succeeded in meeting not only my goal but the Principles of Flag Design's criteria as well.