Ideas worth spreading

Why city flags may be the worst-designed thing you've never noticed

7,012,428 views |

Roman Mars |

TED2015

• March 2015

Roman Mars is obsessed with flags -- and after you watch this talk, you might be, too. These ubiquitous symbols of civic pride are often designed, well, pretty terribly. But they don't have to be. In this surprising and hilarious talk about vexillology -- the study of flags -- Mars reveals the five basic principles of flag design and shows why he believes they can be applied to just about anything.

Roman Mars is obsessed with flags -- and after you watch this talk, you might be, too. These ubiquitous symbols of civic pride are often designed, well, pretty terribly. But they don't have to be. In this surprising and hilarious talk about vexillology -- the study of flags -- Mars reveals the five basic principles of flag design and shows why he believes they can be applied to just about anything.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Sign up to support the redesign of the not-very-attractive San Francisco flag.

About the speaker

Roman Mars

Digital storyteller

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With his show 99% Invisible, Roman Mars discovered new ways to jolt public radio out of its old paradigms, while at the same time spinning riveting tales of design.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Sign up to support the redesign of the not-very-attractive San Francisco flag.