Proposals (RFP) for New Unofficial Boulder Municipal Flag Design with the Museum of Boulder

 Request for Proposals (RFP) for New Unofficial Boulder Municipal Flag Design

Issued By: Museum of Boulder
Submission Deadline: Friday, April 24 at midnight (MT)
Prize: $500 for Winning Design

Introduction

The Museum of Boulder is inviting designers, artists, and community members to submit proposals for a new unofficial municipal flag that will represent the city’s identity, culture, and values. The flag will serve as a symbol of our shared heritage and innovative spirit.

With this initiative we hope to inspire dialogue about our heritage, identity, and history and invite artists and community members to showcase their own perspectives on how this community represents ourselves to the world.

We are looking for a design that is simple, meaningful, and distinctive, with the potential to become a proud and recognizable symbol for Boulder. The winning design will receive a cash prize of $500.

Design Guidelines

The Museum of Boulder encourages creativity and originality, but submissions must adhere to the “Five Principles of a Good Flag” from The North American Vexillological Association as outlined below:

1. Keep It Simple
   The design should be so simple that a child can draw it from memory. Avoid overly complicated patterns or imagery that are difficult to reproduce.
2. Use Meaningful Symbolism
   The flag’s design should incorporate images, colors, or patterns that meaningfully relate to Boulder’s identity, history, or values. Consider how the flag represents our community, our environment, and our shared vision for the future.
3. Use 2 or 3 Basic Colors
   Limit the number of colors used in the design to no more than three. These colors should contrast well and come from the standard color set (e.g., red, blue, yellow, green, black, white). Avoid overly complex color schemes that may detract from the flag’s clarity and recognizability.
4. No Lettering or Seals
   The design should not include any text, names, or organizational seals. The flag should be purely visual in nature, relying on imagery and color alone to convey its meaning.
5. Be Distinctive or Be Related
   The design should be distinctive and easily identifiable, avoiding similarities with other flags. However, subtle similarities to other flags that highlight connections to shared values or heritage are acceptable.

Eligibility

This competition is open to individuals and teams, including designers, students, and community members. No professional design experience is required to participate, but all submissions must adhere to the guidelines listed above.

Submission Requirements

Proposals must include the following:

1. Flag Design
   A digital rendering or drawing of the flag design with a standard 3:5 flag ratio. Submissions should be in JPEG, PNG, or PDF format.
2. Design Explanation
   A brief (no more than 300 words) explanation of the symbolism and meaning behind the flag design. This should explain how the design aligns with Boulder’s identity and the Five Principles of a Good Flag.
3. Contact Information
   The designer’s name, email address, and phone number. If submitting as part of a team, include contact details for all members.

Submission Process

Submissions must be emailed to flag@museumofboulder.org by Friday, April 24 at midnight mountain time. Please include “Boulder Flag Design Submission” in the subject line of your email. Designers may submit up to five designs. 

There will also be a winner selected of the best amateur design and the best elementary school design. If you would like to be considered for those, please indicate so in the email.

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated based on:

• Meaningful symbolism and connection to Boulder
• References to our community heritage, history, and identity
• Adherence to the “Five Principles of a Good Flag”
• Creativity and originality
• Visual clarity and simplicity

Plagiarized, offensive, or irrelevant entries will be disqualified. AI-generated designs are not permitted. By submitting you consent to have your design shared.

All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of city representatives, local designers, and a member of the North American Vexillological Association:

Carol Banks (Founder of Carol Banks Design), Katie McKenna Daniels (Founder of McKenna Daniels Design), Chris Meschuk (Deputy City Manager for the City of Boulder), Bob Morehouse (Founder of Vermilion), Tom Myer (digital artist and founder of Thunder Wolf Native Arts and Culture), Danny Rankin (director of the Whaaat!? Lab at the ATLAS Institute at the University of Colorado), a representative of the North American Vexillological Association.

Read their expanded bios here.

Prize

The designer of the winning flag will receive a prize of $500. The winner will be announced on May 11 and the new flag will be officially unveiled at a public ceremony in anticipation of the inaugural Sundance Film Festival. Additional resources may be available to take complete concepts to final design and fabrication. The winning design will be reproduced in a variety of media for commercial and non-commercial use.

There will also be a winner selected of the best amateur design and the best elementary school design. These winners will be announced and displayed in some of the announcement materials and events and do not come with a cash prize unless the winner has received the overall prize.

Timeline
Submissions due: April 24, 2026
Winner announced: May 11, 2026

Contact Information

For questions or additional information, please contact Emily Zinn at emily@museumofboulder.org.

We look forward to seeing your creative designs and celebrating the unique symbol of our community!