cleveland flag
about flag 09
A new take on an old, well, favorite may not be the right word.
The new Cleveland flag design number nine revisits the current Cleveland flag’s visual elements, notably the shield and anvil motif, and gives them new meaning and a new look.
The first step to update the current Cleveland flag is to change the grid size. Cleveland’s current flag is designed on grid of thirds, making it a tricolor. This gives equal space to the red, white and blue fields, but limits the space available for the shield design in the center white field to one third the flag’s width. Changing the grid to sixths provides more space in the center for the design elements and dramatically improves visibility.
The new Cleveland flag redesign includes a red field on the hoist (left) and fly (right) sides. the remaining two thirds is a white field dedicated to the symbols of Cleveland, Ohio.
Two columns of three blue stars support a blue shield at the flag’s center. Atop the shield is a gear. Prominently displayed on the shield is a flame above an anvil.
The shield represents strength. The gear is for manufacturing, which has always been an important part of Cleveland’s economy. The gear rises half above the shield’s top, while the lower half of the gear is obscured by the shield. In this fashion, the gear is meant to be seen as a sun rising over the horizon, illuminating Cleveland’s future.
Below the gear on the shield’s face is a burning flame. The flame represents the spirit of Cleveland. Below the flame is an anvil. The anvil represents resilience. The anvil is tough—tough enough to shape steel.
Two columns of three stars flank the shield. The three stars on the shield’s left stand for downtown Cleveland and the east and west suburbs. The three stars on the left represent Lake Erie, the Cuyahoga River and the city’s parks and greenspaces.
The six stars and the shield come together to form the head of a guitar, with each star standing in for a string’s tuning peg. The guitar signifies Cleveland’s place as the home of rock and roll.
The red field on the Cleveland flag redesign represents progress. The white field is for prosperity. Using color to represent Cleveland’s motto (Progress and Prosperity) removes the need to use text on the flag and improves the flag’s symbolic meaning.
The color blue stands for Cleveland pride. Yellow represents innovation.
This Cleveland flag redesign is built on a 1:6 grid. Scroll down for the flag’s alternate color scheme. Compare this Cleveland flag design to other Ohio city flags.
alternate colors
The alternate ninth Cleveland flag design appears below. The flag’s design remains the same, as does the symbols and their meaning. The shield is a symbol for strength, the gear a symbol of manufacturing, the flame stands for Cleveland’s spirit and the anvil represents resilience. The white stars also retain their meaning from the previous flag version, as they represent the city and its east and west side and the natural resources comprising the lake, river and parks.
The meaning of each flag color also remains the same, with the primary difference being where the colors are applied.
The red on the Cleveland flag represents progress, white is for prosperity. This replaces the words on Cleveland’s current flag while representing the city’s motto (Progress and Prosperity) on the flag. Blue is for Cleveland pride and yellow stands for innovation.
