Minnesota state flag and seal submissions: The good, the bad, and the loony
Minnesota leaders tasked residents with helping reimagine the state's flag and seal. The citizenry delivered, with designs running the gamut from reverent, to just plain ridiculous. Click here to read more.
Flag submission F17
Loon? Check. Star? Check. Tranquility? Check.
Flag submission F340
There's something fishy about this one.
Flag submission F223
And this one seems a bit familiar.
Flag submission F944
Loons sweep across the flag in cloud and water forms. Bravo!
Flag submission F277
That darn laser loon strikes again.
Flag submission F78
Hmm, this may be in violation of good flag design tenets.
Seal submission S171
Handsome, and the wood paneling beneath gives it credibility.
Flag submission F156
Now come on, that's just someone's dog!
Flag submission F167
Add some lutefisk and this one's a keeper.
Flag submission F1717
Touché, submitter, touché.
Flag submission F388
The Northern Lights truly dazzle in this design.
Flag submission F1650
Another cool Northern Lights-centered contender.
Flag submission F1652
This too!
Seal submission S12
"We aren't [Wisconsin], but wish we were!"
Flag submission F49
Lovely, but could lead to major Minnesota-Michigan-Maine confusion.
Flag submission F51
Ditto.
Flag submission F50
Ditto again!
Flag submission F1630
A longshot, but a marvelous one at that.
Flag submission F1960
Surfin' sasquash. Nuff said.
Flag submission F1226
This one's loon-free — or is it?
Flag submission F1676
A loon in the process of taking flight.
Flag submission F1731
A loon in the process of taking a bite.
Flag submission F1646
Strong early-90s vibe here, like when Gorbachev visited Minnesota, then a few months later the North Stars were in the playoffs.
Flag submission F522
Undeniably gorgeous.
Flag submission F1304
If not the new state flag, perhaps the new state motto?
Flag submission F1252
An alternate album cover design of Prince's "1999"?
Flag submission F834
A bloody loon, folks. Kind of beautiful, though.
Flag submission F1261
This is one of the only designs that incorporates the State Capitol.
Seal submission S132
And this is one of the only designs featuring Paul and Babe.
Seal submission S107
The shapes, the pastels, the simplicity. Splendid.
Flag submission F340
"In Hot Dish We Trust."
Flag submission F18
Faithful to the original design, AND loon-tastic.
Flag submission F41
Some fine wood grain. Can't argue with that.
Seal submission S219
One of the best to capture winter's beauty.
Flag submission F118
Who can't resist a great still life?
Flag submission F605
Artist flagrantly ignored the apparent loon requirement, but we'll let it slide.
Flag submission F96
Who needs an emblems commission when you have Amazon.
Flag submission F91
The U.S. Mint would like a word.
Flag submission F111
The side-eye is strong in this loon.
Flag submission F55
Split Rock Lighthouse and a star. Wait, where's the darn loon?
Flag submission F59
We were actually shocked there weren't more mosquito-focused submissions!
Flag submission F1026
Psychedelics aren't legal in Minnesota quite yet.
Seal submission S23
This is sightly!
Flag submission F159
This could end the "duck, duck, gray duck" debate once and for all.
Flag submission F1598
If this doesn't make the commission's top five...
Seal submission S298
A tree for all seasons.
Flag submission F408
Extreme loon side-eye!
Seal submission S394
No loon, but undeniably vibrant.
Flag submission F516
If not a true contender, this still could inspire a big tattoo trend in the state.
Flag submission F1916
Another tattoo-worthy design.
Flag submission F1647
A Prince doodle to die for!
Flag submission F1670
Lookin' down the bill of a loon?
Flag submission F1732
Not an anatomically-correct loon, but fantastic nonetheless.
Flag submission F1915
Terrific. Loon kind of looks like it took a pool cue across the bill, but still terriffic.
Flag submission F1918
An excellent submission, reminiscent of the United Farm Worker's Aztec eagle logo.
Flag submission F1929
Can you believe this was the ONLY pothole-related submission?
Flag submission F1985
Another Northern Lights-related gem.
Seal submission S212
The neatest one repping the State of Hockey.
Seal submission S178
An earmuffed loon would've been better, but we can make this work.