1. Discover

For the final project we were given the responsibility to create a flag that reflects us. To get a form of inspirations we researched different pictorial genres such as pictograms, logos, hieroglyphs and flags. To better understand each source, sketches for each was needed.

2. Define

It was then time to develop a mind map to layout interests, personal attributes and outside affiliations. Each map required at least 4 words. For my words of interest I chose soccer, fashion, music and food. Personal attributes were charming, courageous, strong and handsome. The lion was a significant part of my mind map because as a child the lion was my favorite animal and I feel like it resonated with the attributes I stated. My outside affiliations were the Reggae Boyz (Jamaica’s Men National Football team), Nude project (a fashion brand), Jamaica and Playboy. I decided to work on elements based on the lion and Jamaica.

Statues of Emancipation Park
Hummingbird, National Bird of Jamaica
Lion
Flower
Drawing of River

I incorporated all of these drawings into one composition as an initial draft for my flag.

This composition is meant to reflect the culture of my country. The man and woman that represents the African ancestors that were brought as slaves. The bird and the flower by the river signify the flora of the country. The sun is meant to be the focal point for the pair intended to be seen as a look for freedom.

These are the color swatches I used for my work.

These are the two flags I chose to represent myself.

I learned that a flag does not have to be a complex composition but a simple coalition of objects and colors to represent something.