Brief 13 _ Initial Research

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Union Jack Re-design Research

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Brief Scotland are goin got be voting for Independence in 2015. This may mean that the infamous and iconic Great British Flag might need to alter to reflect this massive change.

My task is to re-design the Union Jack on the basis of Evolution or Revolution, which essentially means evolving the original Union Jack to suit the change, or revolutioniseing it completely.

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Union Jack Re-design History of the Flag

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What is the Union Jack?

The Union Flag, popularly known as the Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom. It is the British flag.

It is called the Union Flag because it symbolises the administrative union of the countries of the United Kingdom. It is made up up of the individual Flags of three of the Kingdom’s countries all united under one Sovereign - the countries of ‘England, of ‘Scotland’ and of ‘Northern Ireland’ (since 1921 only Northern Ireland has been part of the United Kingdom). As Wales was not a Kingdom but a Principality it could not be included on the flag.

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Why Jack?

“It is often stated that the Union Flag should only be described as the Union Jack when flown in the bows of a warship, but this is a relatively recent idea. From early in its life the Admiralty itself frequently referred to the flag as the Union Jack, whatever its use, and in 1902 an Admiralty Circular announced that Their Lordships had decided that either name could be used officially. Such use was given Parliamentary approval in 1908 when it was stated that “the Union Jack should be regarded as the National flag”.”

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St. George’s Flag In 1194 A.D., Richard I of England introduced the Cross of St. George, a red cross on a white ground, as the National Flag of England.

At this point, the United Kingdom, England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland were separate countries.

In 1536, under Henry VIII, an Act of Union was passed making Wales, in effect a province of England.

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St. Andrew’s Flag After Queen Elizabeth I of England died in 1603, King James VI of Scotland inherited the English throne and became King James I of England. It was a Union of the Crowns, but not yet of the nations.

Each country still kept their own parliaments.

Early in his reign James attempted to combine England and Scotland in a united kingdom of ‘Great Britain’. This was the policy he presented to his first Parliament, called on 22 March 1604. The union was resisted.

James defied them. On 20 October 1604 he proclaimed a new title for himself as ‘King of Great Britain’.

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England + Scotland

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The First Union Flag A problem arose, which flag should be hoisted on the king’s ships.

English sailors resented the Scottish colours and the Scots scorned the cross of St. George .

In 1606 the problem was solved when the red cross of England was put onto the flag of Scotland. A white border was added around the red cross for reasons of heraldry. (The rules of heraldry demanded that two colours must never touch each other.)

On 28th July, 1707, during the reign of Queen Anne, this flag was by royal proclamation made the National flag of Great Britain, for use ashore and afloat.

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England, Scotland + Northern Ireland

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The Union Jack Ireland is represented by the flag of St Patrick ( A diagonal red cross.)

On 1 January 1801, Ireland was united with Great Britain and it became necessary to have a new National Flag in which Ireland was represented. The cross St Patrick was combined with the Union Flag of St George and St Andrew, to create the Union Flag that has been flown ever since.

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Wales The Welsh dragon does not appear on the flag because when the first Union Flag was created in 1606, Wales was already united with England from the 13th century. This meant that Wales a Principality instead of a Kingdom and as such could not be included.

In 1536, under Henry VIII, the Act of Union joined England and Wales officially.

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Union Jack Re-design Traditions

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What’s the flag used for?

Scotland are goin got be voting for Independence in 2015. This may mean that the infamous and iconic Great British Flag might need to alter to reflect this massive change.

My task is to re-design the Union Jack on the basis of Evolution or Revolution, which essentially means evolving the original Union Jack to suit the change, or revolutioniseing it completely.

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Union Jack Re-design Previous Attempts

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2003 Campaign In 2003, a campaign was launched to try and modernise the red, white and blue flag by adding a touch of black to reflect multicultural Britain in the 21st Century.

The proposed new flag was the work of Nigel Turner, an enthusiastic fan of the UK’s transformation into a multiracial society over the past 50 years.

The campaign was NOT successful.

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Union Jack Re-design Flying the Flag

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When is the flag flown?

The Union Flag is flown on government buildings on days marking: - the birthdays of members of the Royal family - Commonwealth Day - Coronation Day - The Queen’s official birthday - Remembrance Day - The days of the State Opening and prorogation of Parliament - St David’s Day (Wales) - St George’s Day (England) - St Andrew’s Day (Scotland) - St Patrick’s Day (Northern Ireland)

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Union Jack Re-design Colour

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Red, White & Blue According to Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated with colors. The colors on the British flag represent the following: White peace and honesty Red hardiness, bravery, strength & valour Blue vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice

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Union Jack Re-design Application

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Globally Used It’s important when working on the flag design to consider all it’s applications. A Kingdom’s flag is everywhere, from Politics to The Monarchy. Souvenires to World Events. It’s massively globally used and recognised so this is a huge thing to consider.

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Politics

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Olympic Events

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Souvenires

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Fashion

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Homwear

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Homwear

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Union Jack Re-design Current Proposals

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Black and Yellow Cross of St David Replaces the St Andrews Blue Cross.

St Andrews Blue Cross Taken out and replaced with the white of St George and Northern Ireland.

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Black and White of St David Replaces the St Andrews Blue Cross.

All Red replaces the St Andrews Blue Cross.

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White Verison is Flying.

Mo Farah holds the Black, White & Red Verison