Help Create an Official Flag for Kirkland

Inviting the community to help create Kirkland's new city flag

When you think of Kirkland, what colors, shapes, and images come to mind? The City of Kirkland is creating an official city flag and YOU can be part of it!

On July 16, 2024, the Kirkland City Council approved resolution R-5636 to create an official city flag through a fun, collaborative process with the community. City flags are not mere pieces of colored fabric fluttering in the wind; they are symbols that embody the pride, history, and aspirations of a community. By participating, you can help foster a strong sense of identity and civic pride within Kirkland as well as contribute to Kirkland’s visibility in the region and beyond.

Here are some ways to participate:

  • Submit a Kirkland flag design: You can create your own design and submit it online! Flag designs are required to meet specific criteria. Please see below for criteria and further instructions. Designs must be submitted by November 15, 2024. We are no longer accepting design submissions.
  • Apply for the Kirkland Flag Learners Advisory Group: This group will review designs, narrow down selections, and ultimately recommend options to the Kirkland City Council. If you’re enthusiastic about flag design and care about the community, please apply by February 21, 2025!
  • Provide feedback about potential flag designs: Designs that are selected for the semi-final process will be posted online and we’d love to hear from you! Sign up for This Week in Kirkland for updates.

Submitting a Flag Design

Your design could be the official city flag of Kirkland!  Get inspired, get creative, and then send in your design. Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be fancy.  Here are some ideas and tips for submitting your design:

  • Designs need to be submitted as a digital file.  Acceptable formats are: JPEG, GIF, and PNG.  You can either:
    • Create your design on a computer, tablet, or phone using an application. If you don’t already have a design application, there are several available including ones that you can use for free such as Canva’s online flag maker or Flag Creator. 
    • Create your design on paper and take a photo of it.  (Don't worry if it isn't perfect - City staff will recreate it with digital tools if your design is chosen!) 

If you have trouble with creating a file in an acceptable format, please submit a service request through Our Kirkland for assistance, and one of our team members will reach out to you!

Flag design submissions will only be considered if they meet the following criteria:

  1. Keep it simple
  2. Use meaningful symbolism
  3. No lettering or seals
  4. Be distinctive
  5. Be related to Kirkland
  6. Be consistent with City values

This criteria was established by the Kirkland City Council and is consistent with design guidelines articulated by the North American Vexillological Association.

A few more rules:

  1. Only one design per person, please. If you submit more than one design, we may contact you to ask you to choose which design will be your sole submission.
  2. All submitted designs may be subject to adjustment based on feedback provided by the City Council, K-FLAG, and/or community or staff comments.
  3. Please keep it clean and respectful. Designs are required to comply with the City of Kirkland social media policy(PDF, 188KB).  In particular, that means the design cannot:
    1. Promote or advertise commercial services, entities or products except as stipulated in City marketing plans and determined by the City to support public goals such as economic development;
    2. Assist a campaign for election of any person to any office or for the promotion of or opposition to any ballot proposition as prohibited by RCW 42.17A.555;
    3. Include threatening language or defamation;
    4. Include obscene or sexual content or links to obscene or sexual content;
    5. Be related to illegal activity or encouragement of illegal activity;
    6. Compromise the safety or security of the public or public systems;
    7. Violate a legal ownership interest of any other party.
Questions?  Please submit a service request through Our Kirkland, and one of our team members will follow up.

 

Apply for the Kirkland Flag Learners Advisory Group (K-FLAG)

The Kirkland City Council established the Kirkland Flag Learners Advisory Group (K-FLAG) to serve as community leaders bringing diverse perspectives, experience, and insights, and to provide recommendations to the City Council regarding the Council’s goal of create an official city flag in collaboration with the community. KFLAG was established by Kirkland City Council through R-5636 on July 16, 2024.

K-FLAG's Goals

  1. Use community-submitted designs, community feedback, design criteria articulated by the North American Vexillological Association, and Kirkland-specific criteria included in R-5636 to review and select a narrowed set of city flag design options. 
  2. Use collaborative processes for decision making among K-FLAG members.  
  3. Provide final recommended designs to Kirkland City Council in 2025 for consideration, selection, and adoption of a final design. 

Expectations of K-FLAG Members

  • Attend at least 90% of K-FLAG meetings.  
  • Care about the Kirkland community and the flag development process. 
  • Have a connection to Kirkland.  
  • Set aside time (1+ hours/week) to review materials provided by staff that will help inform K-FLAG recommendations.  
  • Come with an openness to engage in conversation with people with diverse perspectives.  
  • Be committed to the City’s efforts related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.  

Apply to be on K-FLAG today!

Provide feedback about potential flag designs

Later this fall, you'll be able to review all the potential flag designs and share your thoughts on them.  Want to be notified when the time comes?  Subscribe to This Week in Kirkland for timely topics and noteworthy news - available both as a fun podcast or an email newsletter!

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