In Howard County, they’re flagging this discussion

We suppose you’ve heard this: Marylanders love their distinctive flag, often ranked as one of the best in the nation.

But did you know that every county (and Baltimore City) also has a flag? It’s safe to say they are less well known and and less well loved.

In Howard County, County Executive Calvin Ball wanted to change that.

In January 2024, he signed an executive order that creating a Howard County Flag Commission and charged them with setting up a process to solicit and evaluate designs for a new county banner.

Why? He and others understandably thought that the existing flag, designed in 1968 when the county’s population was about 60,000 and selected through a newspaper contest, didn’t really fit the county’s current vibe. It featured a bale of wheat and a golden triangle, set on the background of the red and white Crossland colors that make up the second and third quarters of the Maryland flag and are the family colors of George Calvert, the first Lord of Baltimore.

Communty members were invited to come up with their best stuff, and 185 entries came in. Voting took place, and the Top 10 finalists were reviewed by commission.

As the process unfolded, Howard County residents were introduced to the field of vexillology, or flag design. The county shared some guidance from “’Good’ Flag, ‘Bad’ Flag:  How to Design A Great Flag” published by the North American Vexillological Association, outlining five basic flag design principles:

• Keep it simple. The flag should be so simple a child can draw it from memory.
• Use meaningful symbolism. The flag’s images, colors or patterns should relate to what it symbolizes.
• Use 2-3 basic colors. Limit the number of colors, use colors which contrast well and come from the standard color set. (Designs with more than 4 colors are discouraged.)
• No lettering or seals. Never use writing of any kind or an organization’s seal. These get small, blurry and can’t be understood from a distance.
• Be distinctive or be related. Avoid duplicating other flags but you may use similarities to show connections.

With increased attention, the current flag was embraced by some who saw no need for change, and lampooned by others. One commentor on Bluesky who goes by the name “Bob Dole’s Communist Doppleganger” said: “This flag commemorates two important events in the history of Howard County, Maryland: The Purchasing of the Dress with the Fuzzy Shoulders, and the Forcing of the Christmas Tree Through the Golden Triangle. Changing it erases our shared history and is the act of a tyrant.”

Earlier this year, Ball was presented with three finalists. The final selection was done in the executive offices. Their choice: a bright design from Esen Paradiso, owner of Columbia Creative Services. The components, according to the arts commission are“a blend of gold, white, green, and blue, symbolizing the county’s rich agricultural history, cultural diversity, and vibrant future.

“The arch design reflects both Howard County’s historical past, represented by the Thomas Viaduct, and its dynamic future, symbolized by the Chrysalis,” the commission’s description said. “The golden circle signifies the energy and optimism of a diverse community, while the colors evoke the county’s natural resources and commitment to environmental preservation.”

A vigorous debate immediately ensued online in March, and according to some accounts, there was even division within the arts commission about the final options.

Baltimore Fishbowl reached two prominent designers to seek their views: Roger Black, a renowned graphic designer; and Lucie Lacava, a media design consultant who has won the lifetime achievement award from the Society of News Design.

Baltimore Fishbowl: As a designer, what are your views on the design of the flag that’s been selected?

Roger Black: Nice design, but looks a bit like the flag for a Florida real estate development. It is not very flaggy, and it may not read well small (for co-branding) or at a distance (for wayfinding).

Lucie Lacava: I wish to offer my interpretation of the three finalists.

Flag 115 (the winner): This stylized flag with its curves and lines has an almost abstract quality about it. But, is the presence of the sun on the horizon that enhances the narrative. The geometric shapes are transformed into rolling hills and mature crops against a warm blue sky. The bright pastel colours evoke a feeling of optimism and peace. An idillic scenery, perhaps a little simplistic.

Flag 123: This is a very powerful composition. The strong diagonals and the stars appear to make a political statement. This flag would be more appropriate to represent a country rather than a county.

Flag 71: This flag combines the geometric and the organic, creating a juxtaposition which symbolizes progress and direction. Perhaps, representing harmony between agricultural growth while looking forward to the future through the symbolism of the arrows. The color palette is sophisticated with the rich blue, the vivid green, and the stark white offering a clear direction and a feeling of renewal. This timeless composition is by far my top choice.

Baltimore Fishbowl: What are your views of the process that led to it?

Roger Black: All good. But popularity contests don’t assure a good design. The (instructional) brief was good, but too brief. Some more uses, contexts, and goals should be included.

Lucie Lacava: The process was quite complex. I would simplify it once the entries were narrowed down to the top ten flags.

Baltimore Fishbowl: Are there things that you would change, both about the process and alterations to the final design?

Roger Black: For the process, I would suggest to entrants that they consider the Maryland and county flags, which rely on historic, heraldic devices. The current Howard County flag is a bad example about how to do this, since it just cribbed the Maryland flag. 

Lucie Lacava: Since the final design has already been awarded here’s what I suggest to improve it: Flag #115 works nicely when displayed horizontally as a landscape. However once turned on its side, as seen on the picture below, the sun seems to roll off the field which can be perceived as a negative. I would strongly recommend that the sun moves up into the top third area of the wider blue sky. The revised representation will work both as a landscape and as a vertical display.

This week, the new design became final. The Howard County Council adopted a bill that made it the official county flag. But the debate is continuing thanks to fresh attention. One image that circulated yesterday: