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.

  • Original Syracuse city flag obscured by the universal no symbol

    Keep It Simple

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

  • Syracuse city seal obscured by the universal no symbol

    Use Meaningful Symbolism

    A flag's images, colors, or patterns should relate to what it symbolizes.

  • Original Syracuse city flag colors obscured by the universal no symbol

    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.

  • Syracuse city seal obscured by the universal no symbol

    No Lettering or Seals

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

  • Original Syracuse city flag obscured by the universal no symbol

    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.

  • Syracuse city flag red palette color set

    Red Palette

  • Syracuse city flag yellow palette color set

    Yellow Palette

    The Syracuse city flag uses “Orange”

  • Syracuse city flag green palette color set

    Green Palette

  • Syracuse city flag light blue palette color set

    Light Blue Palette

    The Syracuse city flag uses “Azure Blue”

  • Syracuse city flag dark blue palette color set

    Dark Blue Palette

    The Syracuse city flag uses “Navy Blue”

  • Syracuse city flag neutral palette color set

    Neutral Palette

    The Syracuse city flag uses “White”

Syracuse City Flag Project FAQs

  • The city of Syracuse decided to redesign its city flag to create a symbol that was better suited to represent the people of the city and function effectively as a flag.

    • The previous flag predominantly featured the city seal, which is designed to be viewed up close on paper, not from a distance or in motion

    • City leaders and community organizers recognized that a flag should be simple, legible, and identifiable when flying or hanging

    • The redesign effort sought to separate the role of the city seal, which represents government, from the role of a flag, which represents the people

    • The initiative was influenced by a broader movement to improve city flags using established principles of good flag design

    • The goal was to create a flag that residents could recognize, use, and display with pride in everyday life

  • The original Syracuse city flag had several design and functional limitations that prevented it from working effectively as a civic symbol.

    • The design was based on the city seal, which is meant for official documents and close viewing, not for use as a flag seen from a distance

    • Its detailed imagery and text were difficult to recognize when reproduced on fabric or viewed while moving in the wind

    • The design did not follow widely accepted principles of effective flag design, limiting clarity and recognizability

    • Because it centered the city seal, the flag represented the city government rather than the people of Syracuse

    • Most residents were unaware the city even had a flag, and it lacked recognizability in everyday civic life

    • The inclusion of the seal restricted how the flag could be reproduced, adapted, or used creatively

    • As a result, the flag had limited flexibility and did not function well as a source of civic pride or inspiration

  • The new Syracuse city flag was officially adopted on Flag Day, June 14, 2023, through an amendment to the city charter approved by the Syracuse Common Council.

    • Amending the charter made the new flag design the official civic flag of the Syracuse

    • The decision marked the conclusion of a multi-year, community-led initiative

    • Choosing Flag Day underscored the civic and symbolic importance of the action

    • Since adoption, the flag has been used in official, civic, and community contexts

  • The new Syracuse city flag was selected through a structured public process led by city officials and administered by a local nonprofit organization.

    • A member of the city’s legislative body formally initiated the redesign effort and secured support within city government

    • The initiative received backing from the Mayor’s office, establishing legitimacy and public visibility

    • A local nonprofit organization, AdaptCNY, was tasked with managing the redesign process and day-to-day operations

    • An open call invited residents to submit new flag designs, resulting in hundreds of community submissions

    • A review committee narrowed the submissions to a small group of finalists

    • Syracuse residents were invited to vote on the finalist designs through both online and paper ballots

    • The selected design was formally adopted through an amendment to the city charter by the Syracuse Common Council

  • The community played a central role in the redesign of the Syracuse city flag through participation, feedback, and voting.

    • Residents were invited to submit original flag designs through an open call

    • Hundreds of design submissions were received from across the city

    • A selection of finalist designs was shared publicly for review

    • Syracuse residents were given the opportunity to vote on the finalist designs

    • Voting was made accessible through both online platforms and paper ballots

    • Public participation helped ensure the final flag reflected the community as a whole

  • The new Syracuse city flag was designed using widely accepted principles of effective flag design to ensure clarity, symbolism, and long-term usability.

    • The design follows the five core principles outlined in Good Flag, Bad Flag, published by the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA)

    • These principles emphasize simplicity, ensuring the flag can be easily recognized and remembered

    • Symbolism is meaningful and abstract rather than literal, allowing the flag to represent ideas instead of detailed scenes

    • The design avoids lettering, seals, and complex imagery, in keeping with NAVA’s guidance that flags should not function as documents

    • limited color palette was used to improve clarity and contrast

    • All colors were selected from the traditional standard flag color set, a system historically derived from naval and international flag usage to ensure visibility and consistency

    • The flag was designed to be distinctive while still visually related to other civic and regional flags

  • The Syracuse Flag Initiative was a community-driven effort to redesign the Syracuse city flag through public participation, professional design guidance, and formal civic adoption.

    • The initiative was launched to address long-standing functional issues with the city’s original flag

    • It was administered by AdaptCNY, a local nonprofit organization focused on community engagement through art and design