From Worst to ?: Pocatello Raises New Flag

The following is a news release from the city of Pocatello.

POCATELLO — After an effort that spanned the globe, Pocatello’s new flag flew over the city for the first time Tuesday.

The Pocatello Veterans Honor Guard had the distinction of hoisting the flag for the first time and the ceremony marked the end of the Gate City’s effort to raise a new flag. In 2015, the city was highlighted in a TED talk by Roman Mars titled “Why city flags may be the worst-designed designed thing you’ve never noticed” as having the “worst city flag in North America.” Since the talk’s debut in March 2015, it has amassed 4.5 million views. A few of which were what sparked local residents to ask the City to take on a redesign effort.

“This was a citizen driven effort from the beginning and I applaud them for showing myself and many in the community what a good flag can mean for a city,” said Mayor Brian Blad. “I don’t know where the North American Vexillological Association will rate us now but regardless, I am proud of what we’ve accomplished.”

The Ad-Hoc Committee formed in the spring of 2016 and in the fall, the committee accepted submissions from the public. Once the submission processed ended, the committee found itself looking at 709 designs from 26 countries and 31 of the 50 United States. In early 2017, a panel of experts began weighing in on the designs and in March, the public had the chance to offer their opinion on all 709 designs. The effort wrapped up with a public comment period on a final six revised designs. The current design rated the highest among the public.

“The response was beyond anything the committee could have imagined,” said Logan McDougall, Flag Design Ad-Hoc Committee Chair. “Now, to have the design on the flag pole is a feeling that’s tough to describe and again, I’d like to thank the committee for their diligence in seeing the city raise this flag.”

The flag is a compilation of several designs and incorporates important symbolism that was highlighted by the public and experts.

“Many of the flags that were submitted had one or more of the themes present in our flag,” McDougall said. “The new flag does a fantastic job of recognizing the different elements that make up Pocatello.”

Businesses and individuals who would like to utilize the flag design can find image files and color specifications at flag.pocatello.us. The website also features a description of all the symbolism contained in the flag.

“We’ve heard about interest about the design being used for t-shirts, hats, and even socks,” said McDougall. “We’re looking forward to seeing what everyone can come up with.”

Residents who would like to purchase a flag can do so at the Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce. The flags are 3 feet by 5 feet and are $50 plus tax.

Below is a list of artists whose submission contributed or had similar features of the final design whether through style or symbolism.

Michael Mantia – Celebration, Florida
Heather Parke – Pocatello, Idaho
Yuri Nelson Santos Matias – Governador Valadares, Brazil
Sarah Starck – Bothell, Washington
Andrew Benson – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Anne Kratz – Pocatello, Idaho
Todd Asay – Pocatello, Idaho
Iker Yoldas – Kepez, Canakkale, Turkey
Alan Hardy – Nottingham, England, United Kingdom
Ken Sugiura – Munroe Fall, Ohio
Stephen Kelly – Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Jon Breker – Inkom, Idaho
Andrew Maris – Fair Haven, New Jersey
Brian Mansberger – Chicago, Illinois
Jack Cackler – Mountain View, California
Aaron Rosen – Panama City, Florida
Aaron Phillips – Idaho Falls, Idaho
Joshua Keeley – Pocatello, Idaho
Malik Burdan – Ontario, Canada
Adam Jester – Mount Morris, New York
Dusan Nedeljkovic – Krusevac, Republic of Serbia
Scott Wood – Pocatello, Idaho
Cathy Kratz – Pocatello, Idaho
Sandy Haufal Malik – Jakarta, Indonesia
Lawrence Kratz – Pocatello, Idaho
Christopher Bradshaw & Tina Riley – Rigby, Idaho
Eric Becker – Rantoul, Illinois
Bruce Olenick – Pocatello, Idaho
Matthew Hutchinson – Cambridge, Massachussets
Tony Burton – Milsons Point, New South Wales, Australia
Alice Elwood – Nibley, Utah
Darcie Porter – Pocatello, Idaho
Eddy Lyons – Portland, Oregon
Ryan Baker – Pocatello, Idaho
Annalee Murr – Roberts, Idaho
Taylor Lawes – Pocatello, Idaho
Michael Vasquez – Pocatello, Idaho
Jordan Westergaard – Idaho Falls, Idaho
Tiffany Kearsley – Pocatello, Idaho
Fondereaux Wilson – Pocatello, Idaho
Emily Iannucci – Pocatello, Idaho
Philip Murphy – Pocatello, Idaho
Madeleine Coles – Pocatello, Idaho
Penni Young Groote – Pocatello, Idaho
Nick Leonard – Takoma Park, Maryland
Semyon Burov – Moscow, Russia
Brett Moxey – Southbank, Victoria, Australia
Austin Jensen – Velva, North Dakota
Thomas Campbell – Pocatello, Idaho
Jonathan Miller – Mokena, Illinois
Linda Mitchell – Rexburg, Idaho
Craig Thompson – Pocatello, Idaho
Tomas Arias – London, United Kingdom
Patrick Gunderson – Los Angeles, California
Timothy Davis – Belmont, California
Nathan Broadhead – Pocatello, Idaho
Cristobal Barra C. – Santiago, Chile
Mackenzie Fuger – Pocatello, Idaho
Dylan Miller – Pocatello, Idaho
Gabby Bator – Pocatello, Idaho
Patrick Hanson – Pocatello, Idaho
Garrett Smith – Pocatello, Idaho
Emma Williams – Pocatello, Idaho
Kayden Grunig – Pocatello, Idaho
Hyrum Brinton – Pocatello, Idaho
Drew Roberts – Pocatello, Idaho
Baker Beech – Pocatello, Idaho
Meghan Calley – Pocatello, Idaho
Kyle Kassman – Pocatello, Idaho
Jean Miller – Pocatello, Idaho
Brystene Smith – Pocatello, Idaho
Quincy Tatom – Chubbuck, Idaho
Morgan Christensen – Pocatello, Idaho
Samantha Yazzie – Pocatello, Idaho
Marcus Woodin – Pocatello, Idaho
Shelbey Emfield – Pocatello, Idaho
William Fernandez – Clarecastle, Republic of Ireland
Misha Melikov – Donetsk, Ukraine
Tyler Johnson – Chubbuck, Idaho
Mason Hobson – Pocatello, Idaho
Tomasz Magierowski – Wroclaw, Poland
Elias Sejer Riis Foldager – Hojbjerg, Demark
Carson McCurdy – Pocatello, Idaho
Ella Fallows – Pocatello, Idaho
Kaitlyn Berry – Chubbuck, Idaho
Zoe Doerr – Pocatello, Idaho
Claire Cameron – Pocatello, Idaho
Tyson Price – Pocatello, Idaho
Iain Panton – Pocatello, Idaho
Marissa Cox – Pocatello, Idaho
Abigail Deakin – Pocatello, Idaho
Rhiannon Reno – Pocatello, Idaho
Tregan Younis – Pocatello, Idaho
Mya Love – Chubbuck, Idaho
Keaton Rollene – Pocatello, Idaho
Lane Frasure – Pocatello, Idaho
Jenna Olsen – Pocatello, Idaho
Jared Hensley – Pocatello, Idaho