“Create a flag that represents your own Island” – The amazing entries from the #MyIslandFlag Insta brief

We’ve teamed up with the British Council to create a design brief that explores the themes surrounding Island: The British Pavilion presentation commissioned by the British Council for the 16th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia.

Last week, we asked you to create a flag that represents your own Island; your very own micro-nation, where you can define the values, cultures, traditions and ideas that make up the community. Over the past 10 days, we’ve seen a phenomenal response to this brief, where people from all over the world have showcased true creative skill in translating their views and values into visual form.

Here, we select the flags we believe answered the brief in the best possible way. With over 300 entries, this was no easy process. It’s Nice That and British Council would like to thank and congratulate everyone who entered their work and encourage you to check out all of the submissions on #MyIslandFlag.

@lukedodridge

“This flag illustrates the start of a journey and its endless possibilities. The use of pink and green represents love, life and nature.”

@tommcgrathh

“My flag represents a utopian Island whose society is focused on the progression of the whole rather than the individual. Through unionisation, collaboration and collective participation, they work towards a common goal.

“Every individual is represented through their own unique ‘patch’ on the flag; providing a crucial part to the islands overall identity. Upon joining the Island, every individual is given the chance to design their own ‘patch’ using the toolset of shapes and colours provided. The patches not only contribute to the Island’s flag but also provide every member of society with their own unique Island identity.”

@evacremers

“My flag represents a place where health and happiness is the base of all, and where playfulness and passion are highly valued.”

@masaya_kochi

“My flags are focused on the difficult relationship between Japan and South Korea, symbolised by the Dokdo/Takeshima islands. The Dokdo/Takeshima islands conflict stems from the Japanese colonisation of Korea and the unsettled debate of who the islands now belong to. Each flag is based on a word that has the same roots and pronunciation in both languages: trust (shinrai/sinang), coexistence (kyōzon/gongjon) and emotion (kanjō/gamjeong). I expressed those three words through their shared traditional art of calligraphy.”

@sh0lik

“My Island is about community: holding up the values of looking in one direction, working together, helping each other, and connecting.”

@louhisbergue

“My Island flag is a complex inner Yin and Yang, a peculiar sanctuary where voids and colours argue, East and West meet, North and South keep up.

@savvvvvvvvvvvva

“Endless school shootings, police brutality, abuse of power… the list can go on forever. As adults, we might understand where it’s coming from. But I always find myself absolutely dumbfounded by these horrible and unnecessary actions, asking myself the simple naive question: “Why can’t we just be nice?”. Being nice, from my perspective, could be applied to anything. My flag represents the idea of forgiveness and starting over. A second chance. A new page in the people’s history.”

@birgitpalma

“The ideal flag for me is a patchwork. A patchwork of people, opinions and beliefs which is continuously expanding and weaving itself together.”

@siennahan

“If there were flags in the DMZ, what would they look like?” The 4km-wide, 240km-long buffer known as the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) slashes across the peninsula, separating North and South Korea. Lined on both sides by tank traps, electric fences, landmines and armies in full battle readiness, it’s a sinister place where the tension is palpable. But where people are unable to go, the DMZ has become an unexpected haven for rare wildlife. This peace and life zone represents my values as a Korean. The fluorescent green colour expresses that the area is unrealistic, and the circle fence shows the boundary between creatures and the DMZ."