The flag of Saint Martin: a difficult choice

‘My Saint-Martin Flag’, the competition to design the flag of Saint-Martin launched in August, closed on 30 September with 42 entries submitted. Following a review of the entries by the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, 36 entries were deemed admissible and forwarded anonymously to the jury. Comprising representatives from the Collectivité, cultural identity organisations, neighbourhood councils, youth groups, the business community, the world of sport and the graphic design sector, the jury selected the ten finalist designs. According to the Collectivité’s press release, the designs were assessed against five criteria set out in the terms of reference: identity, originality, graphic quality, feasibility and the statement of intent.

What the public was expecting

The flamboyant tree was almost unanimously favoured. The sea and Soualiga, the ‘island of salt’, were also among the symbols mentioned, whilst the pelican sparked more debate, particularly as it is already widely used. In terms of colours, preferences leaned towards turquoise blue, tropical green, yellow or orange-red, with a desire not to use more than three colours and to avoid the blue-white-red combination. Beyond natural symbols, diversity and multiculturalism – which are the very essence of Saint Martin’s richness – were also expected to feature. These are more abstract values, certainly, but is it not precisely the nature of graphic design to be able to convey an identity, or even an emotion, through a few shapes and colours?

10 finalists… what we see

Entrants had to prove that their design was indeed the product of their own imagination and talent, and not that of artificial intelligence… There’s no doubt about it: AI really had nothing to do with it! In fact, we asked it to give its opinion on the ten designs put forward for voting. And its analysis is certainly thought-provoking
. ‘First observation: the graphic quality appears very uneven. Some entries look more like sketches or children’s drawings than finished designs. Others feature an abundance of colours, stripes and triangles. Several also incorporate emblems so detailed that they risk becoming illegible once reproduced on a flag fluttering in the wind. Second observation: there is also a noticeable disconnect from the expectations that were expressed. Whilst certain symbols and colours do feature in the entries, the way they are rendered does not always allow one to clearly identify what makes Saint Martin unique. As for diversity and multiculturalism, their graphic representation remains difficult to discern.”
It should be noted, fortunately, that a graphic designer will be brought in to make technical adjustments to the winning flag, in consultation with the designer, in order to perfect it.
This is obviously not to question the commitment of the participants, who responded to this call with their ideas, their sensibilities and their resources. It is the jury’s choice that raises questions.
How were the criteria of graphic quality, feasibility and originality assessed to arrive at this selection? Of the 36 eligible entries, were these ten designs truly the most compelling? Especially given that Saint Martin’s future flag is set to become an institutional symbol and a marker of identity, intended to represent the territory and its inhabitants, their history, culture and heritage for years to come.
Following the public vote, the three proposals with the highest combined scores from the jury’s marks and the public’s votes will be shortlisted for a final review. The administrative procedure will then follow to safeguard the winning design before it is presented to the Territorial Council, which will decide on its official adoption. To vote: www.mysaintmartinflag.com.