Ebbtide: Flag

I designed the flag used in the Ebbtide newspaper in the 2016-2017 school year. The word mark remained the same throughout the year, but it appeared with several different images inside.

Software: Adobe Illustrator

Flag Sketches

When brainstorming ideas, I was inspired by the name, "Ebbtide" and flags used in past volumes of the newspaper. I tried designs that emulate waves and emphasize different letters.

Flag Mockups

I decided to go with a square or rectangle shape. I thought that bold letters would give the flag a young feel because the Ebbtide is a college newspaper. I considered bringing back a flag that had been used in the past, but none seemed retro enough to be cool.

Flag Variations

Having bold letters for the flag allowed me to play around with its look from issue to issue. Some, like the PacMan flag, were meant to add levity to a heavy issue. Some, like the clover and cherry blossom flags, were seasonal. Some, like the basketball and computer chip, made reference to an article or image featured in the issue. The flag with Arabic writing ran after the “Muslim ban” was issued and was meant to be a subtle push back against discrimination.