Dezeen Magazine

Alternative designs proposed for the union jack flag without Scotland

Designs proposed for union jack flag without Scotland

News: alternatives to the current United Kingdom flag presented by a national flag charity have provoked a debate about whether a new design should be commissioned if Scotland chooses independence in its upcoming referendum.

Alternative designs proposed for the union jack flag without Scotland
The union jack flag with gold St David's cross added

The Flag Institute, an independent charity dedicated to the study and documentation of flags, asked experts and members of the public to design new versions of the union jack that would reflect Scotland's independence.

Alternative designs proposed for the union jack flag without Scotland
Design exchanging the blue of Scotland's cross of St Andrew with the black of Wales' cross of St. David

The designs were proposed by people responding to a survey conducted by the Flag Institute, in which 65 percent of respondents claimed the Union Flag should change if Scotland becomes independent.

Alternative designs proposed for the union jack flag without Scotland
Design with a colour change from blue to black and symbols representing the different (current) home nations

The United Kingdom's current flag features the saltire of St Andrew representing Scotland, the English cross of St George and the red saltire of St Patrick for Ireland.

Alternative designs proposed for the union jack flag without Scotland
Design incorporating the green of the Welsh Dragon flag

Suggestion for a possible new flag included replacing the saltire with colours or shapes representing Wales, which was part of the English kingdom when the flag was originally designed.

Alternative designs proposed for the union jack flag without Scotland
Design with black and gold from the St. David flag

One proposal showed the blue saltire of St Andrew replaced with the black ground and yellow cross of the patron saint of Wales, St David.

Alternative designs proposed for the union jack flag without Scotland
Design combining elements from the existing flags

Other designs employed the red, white and green colours of the Welsh Dragon flag, or featured the dragon itself. A design by John Yates fragmented the colours and crosses of each nation into a pattern of overlapping shapes, while others integrated royal iconography.

Alternative designs proposed for the union jack flag without Scotland
Modern interpretation of the flag with the colours of St David's flag and the Scottish blue

The Flag Institute's chief executive Charles Ashburner pointed out that the organisation is neither encouraging nor discouraging a change to the flag, but is "simply here to facilitate and inform the debate if there is an appetite for such a thing."

Alternative designs proposed for the union jack flag without Scotland
Design with the Royal Coat of Arms added and surrounded by a garland of items symbolic of the Commonwealth nations

"As this subject has generated the largest post bag of any single subject in our history ever, there clearly is such an appetite," Ashburner added.

Alternative designs proposed for the union jack flag without Scotland
Design with the white of St Andrew's saltire removed and a crown and Royal Standard included

When the alternative flags were posted on the BBC's online magazine they prompted further suggestions from the public, including many "which kept the shapes in the current union jack but changed the colours."

Alternative designs proposed for the union jack flag without Scotland
Design with elements of the Welsh Dragon flag (Y Ddraig Goch)

The Scottish public will vote on the issue of independence on 18 September 2014, however the College of Arms, which oversees matters relating to flags and heraldry and acts under Crown Authority, told British broadcaster ITV that there are no plans to change the Union Flag if Scotland becomes an independent state.