Alien Race Flag Design Project
Objective: Design a flag using the rules of flag design that will represent an alien race. A flag that would appear flying over a city on another planet or found on the side of an alien spacecraft.
The flag will be based on an alien race that you will invent from your imagination. Elements of the alien’s culture, planet, motivation, and even what they look like will be thought of and speak to the final design of the flag. The final design will be created in Illustrator.
The Process: 1. Alien Race Brainstorm – By answering several questions on Actively Learn about your alien race you will brainstorm about several details that will inform what your flag will look like. These ideas will be shared with classmates.
2. Flag Sketching – Using Photoshop, a Wacom tablet and the brainstorm notes you will create five sketches, each a different flag design. A color palet for your flag design will be created and will happen in a separate document. Use the shape tools, marquee selection tools, and brushes to draw and layout possible flag ideas that connect to the culture of your alien race. Flags can be other shapes than rectangles.
3. Use the Rules Of Flag Design – As you design your five ideas always check that you are in line with the rules of flag design. Have the PDF on the rules of flag design nearby to consult as you design. This includes a written assignment in Actively Learn where you must be able to identify and talk about how you used the rules of flag design in your designs.
4. Design The Final Flag In Illustrator – Pick your best design and recreate it with the result being CLEAN vector art including color.
5. Write the Story of the Flag – Using the brainstorming notes from the start of the project create a short story explaining the flag and the alien race it represents. It can be on the origin of the flag or how it was part of a momentous part of the alien race’s history. This will be displayed with your alien race flag, the image of your star field, and constellation story at Art Riot.
The Rules of Flag Design: 1. Keep It Simple The flag should be so simple that a child can draw it from memory . . .
2. Use Meaningful Symbolism The flag’s images, colors, or patterns should relate to what it symbolizes . . .
3. Use 2-3 Basic Colors Limit the number of colors on the flag to three, which contrast well and come from the standard color set . . .
4. No Lettering or Seals Never use writing of any kind or an organization’s seal . . .
5. Be Distinctive or Be Related Avoid duplicating other flags, but use similarities to show connections . . .
Vocabulary: • Vector Art • Vexillography • Symmetry • Asymmetry
Parts of the flag • Hoist • Canton • Field • Fly