The Keystone Flag Project

Reddit User: OneBigPaperclip

"Pennsylvania's flag has always been pretty boring and complex, so I decided to give it a more simplistic redesign." The three dots represent, "... William Penn's coat of arms."

Reddit User: Expandism

"A new flag for Pennsylvania. The colours stand for the colours on our license plates and the keystone stands for our nickname The Keystone State."

Reddit User: geffy_spengwa

"Why not both the keystone and Penn's CoA [Coat of Arms]?"

Derek Cronlund Design 1

The flag follows a simple color scheme of blue and yellow—the official colors of Pennsylvania—along with white and black, the colors of the family crest of the Commonwealth namesake—William Penn.
The symbol of the keystone is in reference to the PA’s nickname of the “Keystone State.” In so doing, it symbolizes and memorializes the pivotal role Pennsylvania played in holding the colonies together during the War of Independence from Britain.
The major shape of the flag is a minimalist depiction of the Liberty Bell, a renowned symbol of the Commonwealth’s largest city—Philadelphia. It as well executes a secondary function of representing a simplified depiction of the Commonwealth’s shape. Consequentially this further evokes the historical role Pennsylvania played in forming the foundation of our current country. The Commonwealth was home to the First and Second Continental Congress, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the creation of the United States Constitution, and the Nation’s first Capital. Imagery that captures PA’s undeniable contributions to our young country ought to be incorporated in a symbol used to represent it.
The three white dots on the black field are a reference to the family crest of William Penn, its founder and namesake. A practicing Quaker himself, Penn’s colony became a flocking point for and a settlement of Quaker communities. From these communities were born the first abolitionist movements in the country. By including Penn’s crest, symbolized are the historically progressive actions of the Pennsylvania Quakers while also paying homage to the Commonwealth’s titular founder. Although the reality of Penn’s slave ownership should not be forgotten by displaying the crest, the work predicated on the religious principles of the Quakers which helped to realize the ideals of the Declaration of Independence ought to be memorialized by Pennsylvania’s flag.

Derek Cronlund Design 2

"In most ways, this is the same design as my first proposal. However, in lieu of William Penn's crest, are two 5-point stars. Instead this flag recalls Pennsylvania's status as the second state to ratify the US constitution in 1787."

Reddit User: geffy_spengwa; Revised by: Derek Cronlund.

"I was intrigued by geffy_spengwa's design. However, I thought that without the state colors, it lacked a unique character that would enable it to stand out from the crowd."

These are just a few of the many creative reimaginings of Pennsylvania’s flag. Following the links above will provide the reader with an even more exhaustive compilation of creators’ designs. Easily recognizable symbols are already baked into the history and psyche of Pennsylvania, why is it that none of them have been incorporated into the flag that is supposed to represent the Commonwealth?
So we wonder, if individuals on the internet—whether residents of the PA or not—are capable of such varied and unique designs, imagine what an open competition for a new flag might yield. This is what we want, more creativity for the flag and more say fro­m the people.