Goal
The Kaduna flag should be modernised to reflect contemporary values, promote regional identity, and enhance emotional resonance with its citizens. The new design should embody previous designs whilst being able to stand alongside modern flags from the international community.
Context
The Kaduna flag serves as an emblem of regional pride and identity, representing the diverse cultures, ethnicities, and histories of the inhabitants of Kaduna State, Nigeria.
The flag will be used in official state functions, community events, and educational settings to foster a sense of belonging and connection among residents. Both previous designs heavily focus on a central seal which will be the focus for this redesign.
Constraints
Budget/Timeline: This design will be considered for selection as the new state flag, with strict limitations on both budget and timeline until its approval for further design phases.
Symbolic Inheritance: The design must include all symbols and elements used in previous crest designs.
Cultural Sensitivity: The design must respect and incorporate elements from the various cultures and traditions represented in Kaduna, avoiding any symbols or colours that may be divisive or contentious.
Usability: The flag must be suitable for various applications, including digital platforms, physical displays, letterheads, logos and merchandise.
Criteria
Visual Appeal: A good design should be aesthetically pleasing and communicate a sense of pride and unity.
Symbolism: A strong candidate will contain symbols and elements that reflect the history, culture, and aspirations of the people of Kaduna.
Simplicity: The design should be clear and easily recognisable, utilising a limited colour palette and minimal complexity for effective reproduction.
Relevance: A good design should resonate with contemporary audiences while honouring historical aspects of the existing flag.
Flexibility: Any flag design should be highly adaptable for various uses and formats, maintaining its integrity at all scales.
Both state-recognised versions of the flag feature the Kaduna Seal.
Figma was used to consolidate contextual research into the elements that make the Kaduna Seal.
Basic forms were initially sketched and composed together in Photoshop.
Early client feedback requested that the Northern Cross Knot be rotated to better match the original design and to include a visual link to the knot. A rope pattern was achieved by designing custom brushes with mid and end-points to elegantly handle the 90° bends inherent in the design.
Before moving to Illustrator, as vectors better suit the usability aspects of the brief.
The crocodile was also identified as requiring iteration as it looked too iconic, less identifiable as a large West African species and its front legs overhung the banner. The redesign better took into account the hulk and mass of the species whilst it’s pose could be better integrated around other elements.
The design went through 4 rounds of iteration as elements were incorporated and adjusted, responding to client feedback.
Project Lead Time: 1 week.
Tools Used: Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator.
