cleveland flag

A new day is dawning over Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland's new reputation has earned it a new identity. A new Cleveland flag is at the heart of a new brand for the city. Cleveland deserves a new symbol. It’s time for a new Cleveland flag.

Design fourteen is a contemporary and bold flag design that honors the city’s heritage and looks to the Cleveland’s future.

The proposed Cleveland flag is divided into two horizontal fields—a white field on top and a grey field below. Starting at the flag’s center, an eight-pointed star extends toward the flag’s fly or right side. Each of the star’s eight points align with the diagonal lines that invisibly divide the flag from corner to corner as well as at forty-five degrees through the star’s center to the upper and lower fly (right). The eight-pointed star is divided in equal halves at the flag’s midpoint. The star’s top half is a vibrant yellow on top of the white field and the bottom half over the grey field is white.

The line where the white and grey fields meet is symbolic of the horizon, where the earth and the sky converge in the distance. It is the physical manifestation of Cleveland’s aspirational future and long-term goals.

From the horizon rises a vibrant yellow-orange sun. This symbolizes the promise of tomorrow, a new start and and renewed hope. The sun’s rays appear as an eight-pointed star; a reference to the points on a compass and symbol of navigation, direction and guidance. The eight-pointed star is divided in equal halves, representing a shared connection between Cleveland's future and its history.

The white field represents Cleveland’s hope and optimism. Below it, the grey field honors the city’s foundation of stone and steel. For almost a century, Cleveland, Ohio, provided steel to the nation and the world. Later, heavy manufacturing joined Cleveland’s economic landscape. While these industries are no longer the cornerstone of Cleveland’s economy, the prosperity they brought lives on in some of the finest architecture and stone work in the country and transformed Cleveland’s skyline.

The Terminal Tower is Cleveland's iconic skyscraper. When it was completed in 1927, it was the second tallest building in the world. It remained the tallest building in North America outside of New York City until 1964. Severance Hall, home of the Cleveland Orchestra is one of the most beautiful concert halls in the world. Other examples of Cleveland’s stone and steel architecture include the Grand Arcade, Cleveland Trust Company Building, Trinity Cathedral, Tower City Center, the Mall and Playhouse Square, to name a few. Several Marvel movies were filmed in Cleveland, where the city’s architecture stood in for New York City and Stuttgart, Germany.

This new Cleveland flag design is built on a modified 1:6 grid. Scroll down for the flag’s alternate design. Compare this new Cleveland flag to other current Ohio city flags.