Public Design Story

A flag should work from the road.

South Dakota deserves a flag that can be recognized in an instant: on a pole, a jersey, a storefront, a patch, or a tourism campaign.

This swipe edition walks through the case one idea at a time, then invites a public vote.

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The Problem

A seal is for documents. A flag is for distance.

South Dakota's current flag asks people to read a seal. That is a lot to ask at 50 feet, and nearly impossible at 200 feet.

Current flag: meaningful up close, but visually crowded from far away.

Past Flags

South Dakota has changed its flag before.

The point is not change for novelty. The point is improvement: clearer identity, stronger recognition, and a design people can carry proudly.

1909 Original

A sun-forward design direction that reminds us simple symbols often read faster than seals.

1992 Current Flag

The modern flag still depends on the Great Seal and circular lettering, which are difficult to identify from distance.

Read the brief flag history

The Principle

The more simple, the better.

A strong flag uses shape and color before anyone has time to read it. The distance test keeps each image the same size. Only the blur changes.

That is the question: after detail turns to haze, what is still recognizable?

Current flag

Rich's final design

At 200 feet, the current flag becomes an anonymous blue field. Rich's final design keeps its main read: blue field, gold state symbols, and a central river shape.

Design Progression

From flag principles to a South Dakota story.

The proposal moves from a flag-study idea, to a simpler sun-and-river direction, and finally to a fuller wildlife concept intended to spark public discussion.

Old vs. New

Choose a concept. Test it against the current flag.

Current flag: official, detailed, difficult at distance.

vs.

Rich's Submission

A narrative, not necessarily the final answer.

Buffalo and Black Hills Spruce speak to West River. Pheasant, corn, soybean forms, and a deciduous tree speak to East River. The Missouri River connects both halves beneath the South Dakota sun.

Rich's view: this design may still be too busy for a final flag. It is offered as ideation to encourage public debate.

Opinion Poll

Which direction should South Dakota take?

Vote for a concept, keep the current flag, return toward the original, or ask for an open design call. Optional notes help sharpen the public recommendation.

Choose an option above. Preview votes are saved locally until a hosted poll endpoint is connected.

Personal Note

Rich is design-agnostic about the final answer.

The goal is public discussion around what is a flag versus what is a seal. A flag should be identifiable from a distance and use color to tell a story. This submission is a starting point for debate, not the end of it.

Maybe the final answer should be simpler than Rich's submission. The important part is asking the question in public.

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