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

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

The vexillological disaster of Milwaukee's flag sparks a citywide debate on the importance of cohesive, meaningful design.

Design principles for flags mirror those for broader design challenges: simplicity, symbolism, color use, and distinctiveness.

Exploring flag design reveals insights into aesthetics that apply across various forms of design, enhancing everyday functionality.