Start designing your flag by following these essential hints and tips:

1: Keep it simple

• The flag should be simple enough for a child to draw from memory

2: Use meaningful symbolism

• Use elements, colours and patterns that relate to what the flag symbolises

3: Use no more than two or three basic colours

• Choose from the standard colour set
  • red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, dark blue, purple, black and white
• Choose those that contrast well
  • yellow and white work well on any other colour and vice versa

4: Avoid lettering, seals or coats of arms

• Do not use any organisational badge, seal or coat of arms
  • instead use element(s) from a relevant coat of arms as symbols on the flag
• Do not use any kind of lettering

5: Be distinctive or be related

• Do not duplicate other flags
• But do use similarities to show connections

6: Consider the effect of height and wind

• Remember the design must remain visible when flying
  • from a high pole
  • in high winds, in no wind and when rippling in the breeze

7: Get more detailed guidance

• The Guiding Principles of Flag Design (Flag Institute/NAVA, 2014)
• Free to view or download in PDFhere

Flag flying days (UK) 2025

Flag protocol (UK)

Flag Registry (UK)

Union Flag specification

Union Jack or Union Flag

William Crampton Library online catalogue

Flagmaster Index