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Museum of Boulder Announces Winning Design in Unofficial Boulder Flag Competition

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BOULDER, CO | May 14, 2026 – The Museum of Boulder officially announced the winning design in its Unofficial Boulder Flag competition during a public reception held Wednesday evening at the Museum of Boulder, concluding a months-long community initiative that invited residents, artists, and designers to imagine a new visual symbol for the city.

The winning design, titled Flatiron Sunrise Flourish, was created by designer Michael Stuart Trimmer and selected following multiple rounds of blind review, discussion, and refinement led by a diverse community Review Panel.

The winning designer will receive a $500 award, and merchandise featuring the final flag design will launch Memorial Day weekend. All submitted designs, including finalists, will also be displayed in an installation at the Museum of Boulder.

After receiving nearly 200 submissions from professional designers, students, artists, and community members, the Review Panel selected 10 finalist designs through a blind evaluation process before choosing the winning flag following a final round of review and refinement.

Finalist designers included Todd Pitman, Michael Stuart Trimmer, Mel Rose, Steven Chester of Narrative Designs, Joey Major, Carolyn McHale of Boldface Design Group, Berger & Föhr (Lucian Föhr and Todd Berger), Ethan Thomasset, and Guillermo Tirado. More information on the final designs HERE.

The competition was developed as an opportunity to spark conversation around Boulder’s shared identity, history, landscape, and future through the language of civic design.

“This is an opportunity for dialogue about Boulder’s identity, heritage, and history,” said Emily Zinn, the Museum of Boulder’s newly appointed Deputy Director for Community Engagement.

The final phase of the process included a live design forum hosted by volunteers from the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA), where finalist concepts were discussed and refined. The selected design was further refined in collaboration with NAVA volunteers with the artist’s permission and participation before the Review Panel reached consensus on the final version.

Reviewers cited the flag’s bold geometry, dynamic movement, and distinctive use of color as key strengths, describing the design as reflective of Boulder’s innovative spirit, natural beauty, and energetic identity.

Reviewers also noted the design’s intentionally unconventional structure and strong visual distinctiveness. Unlike many traditional municipal flags, the composition uses angular movement and asymmetrical forms to create a sense of forward momentum and emergence.

“Like the country, Boulder has felt a little divided lately. My hope is that a clear, community-made flag becomes a rallying point that reminds us what we share,” said reviewer Katie Daniels. “Boulder has been my home for many years, and I look forward to many more years with a new shared way to show city pride.”

“A city flag can be a strong visual unifying symbol reflecting pride and shared identity and belonging in a place,” said reviewer Bob Morehouse. “The timing is right for Boulder to adopt a flag that captures the resilience, innovation, and natural beauty of our community.”

The Review Panel acknowledged that no single design would reflect every individual perspective on Boulder, but emphasized that successful civic flags often become meaningful symbols over time through shared public connection and use.

“The introduction of a city flag — official or unofficial — represents a milestone for the Boulder community,” said Christopher R. Taylor, Executive Director of the Museum of Boulder. “This flag encapsulates the spirit of who we are as a community, and I am eager to see it waving proudly, representing our collective aspirations and values for generations to come. Thank you to those who submitted designs and to our committee of designers and community leaders who came together to aid in the selection process.”

The winning design draws inspiration from Boulder’s defining landscapes, culture, and history, with many finalist submissions throughout the competition incorporating elements such as the Flatirons, Boulder Creek, open space, bluebird skies, mining heritage, the Boulder Star, and the city’s strong connection to the outdoors.

Request for Proposals (RFP) for New Unofficial Boulder Municipal Flag Design

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 Request for Proposals (RFP) for New Unofficial Boulder Municipal Flag Design

Issued By: Museum of Boulder
Submission Deadline: Friday, April 24 at midnight (MT)
Prize: $500 for Winning Design

Announcement update:

Our Review Panel for the Unofficial Boulder Flag contest have been in deliberations and are nearing consensus.

We had scheduled an announcement on May 11, 2026, but thanks to the overwhelming number and quality of submissions we have taken this selection very seriously and want to make a choice that Boulder will love.

As a result, we will announce in person on the 13th instead. There will be an in-person reception at 5PM at the Museum when a winner will be announced!

Join us for light refreshments and to see the other submissions in an installation at the Museum!

Vote for your favorite of the finalists at the Boulder Reporting Lab – Pick Your Favorite: Museum of Boulder Unveils Finalist Designs for Unofficial City Flag.

Also check out Colorado Public Radio – The City of Boulder Will Soon Raise a New Flag, But First it has to Pick a Winner

Introduction

The Museum of Boulder is inviting designers, artists, and community members to submit proposals for a new unofficial municipal flag that will represent the city’s identity, culture, and values. The flag will serve as a symbol of our shared heritage and innovative spirit.

With this initiative we hope to inspire dialogue about our heritage, identity, and history and invite artists and community members to showcase their own perspectives on how this community represents ourselves to the world.

We are looking for a design that is simple, meaningful, and distinctive, with the potential to become a proud and recognizable symbol for Boulder. The winning design will receive a cash prize of $500.

Design Guidelines

The Museum of Boulder encourages creativity and originality, but submissions must adhere to the “Five Principles of a Good Flag” from The North American Vexillological Association as outlined below:

  1. Keep It Simple
     The design should be so simple that a child can draw it from memory. Avoid overly complicated patterns or imagery that are difficult to reproduce.
  2. Use Meaningful Symbolism
     The flag’s design should incorporate images, colors, or patterns that meaningfully relate to Boulder’s identity, history, or values. Consider how the flag represents our community, our environment, and our shared vision for the future.
  3. Use 2 or 3 Basic Colors
     Limit the number of colors used in the design to no more than three. These colors should contrast well and come from the standard color set (e.g., red, blue, yellow, green, black, white). Avoid overly complex color schemes that may detract from the flag’s clarity and recognizability.
  4. No Lettering or Seals
     The design should not include any text, names, or organizational seals. The flag should be purely visual in nature, relying on imagery and color alone to convey its meaning.
  5. Be Distinctive or Be Related
     The design should be distinctive and easily identifiable, avoiding similarities with other flags. However, subtle similarities to other flags that highlight connections to shared values or heritage are acceptable.

Eligibility

This competition is open to individuals and teams, including designers, students, and community members. No professional design experience is required to participate, but all submissions must adhere to the guidelines listed above.

Submission Requirements

Proposals must include the following:

  1. Flag Design
     A digital rendering or drawing of the flag design with a standard 3:5 flag ratio. Submissions should be in JPEG, PNG, or PDF format.
  2. Design Explanation
     A brief (no more than 300 words) explanation of the symbolism and meaning behind the flag design. This should explain how the design aligns with Boulder’s identity and the Five Principles of a Good Flag.
  3. Contact Information
     The designer’s name, email address, and phone number. If submitting as part of a team, include contact details for all members.

Submission Process

Submissions must be emailed to flag@museumofboulder.org by Friday, April 24 at midnight mountain time. Please include “Boulder Flag Design Submission” in the subject line of your email. Designers may submit up to five designs. 

There will also be a winner selected of the best amateur design and the best elementary school design. If you would like to be considered for those, please indicate so in the email.

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated based on:

  • Meaningful symbolism and connection to Boulder
  • References to our community heritage, history, and identity
  • Adherence to the “Five Principles of a Good Flag”
  • Creativity and originality
  • Visual clarity and simplicity

Plagiarized, offensive, or irrelevant entries will be disqualified. AI-generated designs are not permitted. By submitting you consent to have your design shared.

All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of city representatives, local designers, and a member of the North American Vexillological Association:

Carol Banks (Founder of Carol Banks Design), Katie McKenna Daniels (Founder of McKenna Daniels Design), Chris Meschuk (Deputy City Manager for the City of Boulder), Bob Morehouse (Founder of Vermilion), Tom Myer (digital artist and founder of Thunder Wolf Native Arts and Culture), Danny Rankin (director of the Whaaat!? Lab at the ATLAS Institute at the University of Colorado), a representative of the North American Vexillological Association.

Read their expanded bios here.

Prize

The designer of the winning flag will receive a prize of $500. The winner will be announced on May 11 and the new flag will be officially unveiled at a public ceremony in anticipation of the inaugural Sundance Film Festival. Additional resources may be available to take complete concepts to final design and fabrication. The winning design will be reproduced in a variety of media for commercial and non-commercial use.

There will also be a winner selected of the best amateur design and the best elementary school design. These winners will be announced and displayed in some of the announcement materials and events and do not come with a cash prize unless the winner has received the overall prize.

Timeline
Submissions due: April 24, 2026
Winner announced: May 11, 2026

Contact Information

For questions or additional information, please contact Emily Zinn at emily@museumofboulder.org.

We look forward to seeing your creative designs and celebrating the unique symbol of our community!

Teacher Notes for Flag of Boulder Lesson

Teachers: We encourage educators to integrate this project into lessons on local history, natural resources, symbolism, identity, or the America 250 / Colorado 150 commemorations. Student-friendly activity sheets guide participants through the full process—from prior knowledge and symbolism (using the Colorado flag as an example), to brainstorming unique local ideas, and completing a final design for submission.

Copy of Flag competitionDownload

Camp Colorado at the Museum of Boulder Presented by Yelp

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Camp Colorado was everything we hoped for and then some. This giant community effort takes a village, and we want to thank every single person that helped bring this event to life. 🏕️

To the folks at Yelp Colorado, to all the generous vendors, to the security team, and of course to all of our wonderful campers who attended the event, THANK YOU. We were able to raise thousands of dollars for the museum, so that we can continue to tell the stories that need to be told, while preserving Boulder’s unique history.

READ MORE HERE – https://www.yelp.com/biz/yelp-camp-colorado-at-museum-of-boulder-boulder

Here just a few of the amazing reviews from the event:

“We had such a great time and really enjoyed the variety of exhibits and interactive ways to learn more about Boulder. We talked with one of the Museum staff, who was funny and very knowledgeable.” -Wendy M

“And the place that hosted such event was none other than the Museum of Boulder. This is a place to connect people in the community with educational experiences and exhibits. Yelp, you picked the right venue and right entity to host us tonight!” -Rika M. 

“Thank you to the Boulder Museum for hosting all of us in this space. From the art and exhibits that we saw, it’s pretty uniquely curated.” -Melanie T. 

“This was my first time at the Museum of Boulder and I’m so glad the event was held here to benefit this museum. There is so much rich history in Boulder and it is a great space for events and learning. I liked the rooftop patio the best!” -Cori S. 

“I have to open up with saying that I was thoroughly impressed with this museum as it’s more diverse than expected especially with the lack of diversity in Boulder itself. Again hats off to you. What caught my eye the most was their African American and LGBTQ area. That was the most impressive though not the only.” 

“I also liked the history section of the museum. Their bike exhibit and climbing was interesting.” -Philip B

“The venue was so nice. In my brief look at the exhibits I learned about LGBT+ programs around Boulder and a bit of the political history. Their rooftop patio was also beautiful. I can’t wait to come back to this museum.” -Kait S. 

“Shout out to the wonderful Yelp team and Matt C. for putting on what must have been a heroic effort of coordination. And to our favorite museum guide on the second floor who gave us the origin story of how Boulder became the crunchy, socially-aware, health-obsessed town it is today due to the establishment of the Kellogg sanitarium.” -Helen S. 

“The museum had so many cool informative history. There was also a rooftop that overlooked the mountains with the perfect view of the sunset.” -Crystal E. 

“I’d never been to this museum before and I thought it was a gorgeous venue. I also loved the outdoor spaces.” -Annette T. 

“I’ll have to go back to see what is on exhibition in the rooms that had food stations last night, but I was able to see the displays on Black History and the Boulder Experience–both with unique art, local information and perspectives–something from everyone to learn no matter how long you’ve lived here.” -Carol D. 

“The Museum of Boulder was a fun and lively venue–great energy and a perfect setting for the event.” -Chris H. 

“The Museum of Boulder was awesome and leaning the history of Boulder was very cool!” -Kimberly H. 

“The venue itself was fantastic, and I especially loved the rooftop terrace with a vinyl DJ playing great vibes and an amazing view of the city and mountains.” -Ilona K. 

“Fantastic event at the Museum of Boulder! As an avid lover of museums it was amazing to visit this gem and explore as well as try local bites and drinks from the area! My favorite exhibit featured Mary Rippon, a Victorian professor and pioneer in education instruction! What an incredible story to tell that feeds into University of Colorado’s history! Another part of the exhibit touched on the Boulder food scene which I thought was so appropriate for a Yelp event tie-in.” -Katie P.

“The museum was soo nice as well. It was fun to walk the exhibits and learn about all of Boulder’s history. We parti gladly liked the LGBTQ+ section. Who would’ve known that Boulder had such a colorful history!” -Nichole A. 


Last night was a night we won’t soon forget, and we can’t wait to continue reliving the evening. For now, here are a few photos to relive the magical night of Camp Colorado!

📸: @guacarowley