Out With the Old, in With the New

An old flag retired, a new symbol raised for all Syracusans

Thanks to the leadership of the Syracuse Flag Initiative, years of talk turned to action in adopting our new Syracuse city flag.

The Basics

The local non-profit organization Adapt CNY, in partnership with the city of Syracuse, NY, created the Syracuse Flag Initiative and put out a call for proposals to accept design submissions for a new Syracuse city flag. Designs were reviewed and judged by a non-partisan committee in addition to public input. The First Light flag was proposed June 14, 2023 and officially adopted as the new city flag of Syracuse, NY on June 20, 2023.

Original Syracuse city flag that featured the city seal

Why did the original Syracuse city flag need to be redesigned?

The original Syracuse city flag broke all five NAVA guidelines typically used when creating well-designed flags.
The symbolism used on the original Syracuse city flag, while historically important, was too literal, unsophisticated, and should’ve been reserved for use on the city seal.
The vast majority of Syracusans had no idea that we even had a city flag. No city residents could identify this original flag and so it went unrecognized.
The Syracuse city seal, which is emblazoned in the center of the original Syracuse city flag, was not meant to be admired or read from a distance. It was especially difficult to read on a piece of cloth that danced in the wind.
The Syracuse city seal was the main point of interest on the original Syracuse city flag. When a city seal, which represents the government of a city, is featured on a city flag that flag becomes representative of the city’s government. This should be avoided since city flags represent the people of a city; not the government.
Due to restrictions that stem from the inclusion of the city seal, the original Syracuse city flag was not allowed to be sold, replicated or featured on any merchandise.
The original Syracuse city flag design lacked the flexibility needed that would allow it to be adapted for use in creative ways.
The original Syracuse city flag didn’t easily ignite a sense of pride in our fellow residents and was not a great source of inspiration.

Color Inside the Lines

Guidelines that encourage best-in-class flag designs

When designing a flag, guidelines can help maintain a high standard of quality so that a final flag design can proudly stand alongside other famous flags of the world.

“Good Flag, Bad Flag” Design Principles

The North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) plays a leadership role in educating the international community on the topic of flag studies. NAVA published the still-revered reference book on flag design titled “Good Flag, Bad Flag”. The book lays out five basic design principles designers should abide by when working toward a successful flag design.

Keep It Simple

A flag should be so simple that a child can draw it from memory.
Use Meaningful Symbolism

A flag's images, colors, or patterns should relate to what it symbolizes.
Use 2 or 3 Basic Colors

Limit the number of colors on a flag to three which contrast well and come from the Standard Color Set.
No Lettering or Seals

Never use writing of any kind or an organization's seal.
Be Distinctive or Be Related

Avoid duplicating other flags, but use similarities to show connections.

Standard Color Set

Originating from the British Navy's "Flags of All Nations,” this standardized set of colors specifically created for use in flags has been used by flag designers around the globe for decades. It is generally accepted that flags should use colors from this set unless a valid reason can be provided for a departure.