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There's No Crying in Flag Design

Name: There's No Crying in Flag Design
Description: CGP Grey discusses flag design principles and grades flags, following the Minnesota state flag redesign. It argues for simple, distinctive flags.

CGP Grey

50 videos recommended on HN

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1 HN user recommended this commentary1 month2023–2026 score 1.5

Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026

Linked whenever flag redesigns come up, and credited as hugely influential on how people think about flag design.

CGP Grey discusses flag design principles and grades flags, following the Minnesota state flag redesign. It argues for simple, distinctive flags.

“This one video has had more influance on flag design than any written editorial.” (HN, 2026)

1 strong recommendations · 3 citations · 1 jokes · Commentary

Graphic design & typography Commentary Design, Graphics & Visual Media

5 Hacker News comments

From the HN archive; up to 20 kept per video, favoring different commenters. Recommendations first.

@sandworm101 Jun 2026 Strongly recommends

on HN thread Why all new flags look the same

An article about flag design but no mention of CGP Grey? This one video has had more influance on flag design than any written editorial. [this video]

Hugely influential on flag design

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Citations, criticism and jokes

@LinuxBender Apr 2023 Cites it

on HN thread Utah’s new flag – and here’s why more states are mulling redesigns

On a related topic, here [1] is a video of CGP Grey grading US flags. My flag Wyoming gets an F in the S tier. But I am happy he wants to retire here. [Spoiler] Utah is one of 4 states that gets the highest grade. [1] - [this video] [video][19 mins]

CGP Grey grades US state flags

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@ubj Dec 2023 Cites it

on HN thread Next Minnesota State Flag

Obligatory link to CGP Grey's grading of the quality of all U.S. state flags: [this video] Also, a more recent video about Minnesota's new flag: [link]

CGP Grey grades quality of US state flags

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@jonchurch_ Apr 2025 Cites it

on HN thread BART's Anime Mascots

It is a useful concept, and letting the whispers of the vexillophiles[0] into your head will lead you to see that most flags are well, pretty bad. CGP Grey has a lot of opinions[1] about this. [0] [link] [1] [this video]

CGP Grey's opinions on flag design

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@mjevans Sep 2024 Makes a joke

on HN thread Did Sandia use a thermonuclear secondary in a product logo?

That thing is supposed to be a logo? I'm reminded of CGP Gray's videos about flags. [link] Like this one [this video] About US state flags

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