Evanston, IL - It’s time to design a new flag for the City of Evanston! Mayor Biss is launching a design contest open to all Evanston artists and designers in grades K-12.

The flag should reflect the unique history, geography, and characteristics of the Evanston community, as well as the passion and interests of the designer.

Submissions are due by the end of 2023 and finalists will be chosen early in 2024 by a panel of professionals. All finalists will be paired with professional designers from the community who have generously agreed to volunteer their time to work with contestants to hone and polish their designs. The winner will be selected by the end of the school year and celebrated in a public unveiling of Evanston’s new flag.

Tips for flag design:

- Keep it simple and don’t include text or pictures of seals or maps – the flag is supposed to be seen and understood from a distance while flapping in the wind;

- Use meaningful symbolism and explain it in your application;

- Don’t use too many colors.

For more on flags and flag design, visit the North American Vexillological Association website or watch this TED talk by Roman Mars.

Contest requirements:

1. Artists must be an Evanston resident in grades K-12, or a student in a K-12 Evanston public, private, or religious school.

2. Designs must conform to a 3:5 ratio.

3. Files submissions must be in PDF, JPEG, or Vector format or drawn on paper.

4. Submissions may be drawn on the submission form linked below or sent as an attachment to an email.

5. Submissions must be emailed to [email protected] with the subject line: Flag Design Submission/YOUR NAME or dropped off in person at the Morton Civic Center, Ground Floor Security Desk, Attn: Communications Division. 

6. All submissions must be received by December 31 at 11:59 p.m.

7. The contest is limited to one submission per person.

Download this fillable PDF Submission Form or print it out. 

For more information, please call/text 847-448-4311. For convenience, residents may simply dial 311 in Evanston.

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