Winning Flag Design In Mayor's Contest Will Represent Plainfield

PLAINFIELD, IL — Plainfield Mayor John Argoudelis is hosting a flag design contest in an effort to establish a new village flag, he told Patch.

"There was an old flag that was never used at all, from the '70s," he said. "This would replace that flag. ... I'm looking to inspire the same civic pride [as Chicago] here in Plainfield."

Launched on Flag Day, celebrated annually on June 14, the contest seeks submissions from Plainfield residents of all ages looking to celebrate their hometown and show community pride.

Entries will be accepted through Feb. 1 — originally Dec. 1 — and a winning design will be revealed in spring 2024. Submissions will be judged by a committee comprising village staff and elected officials, including Argoudelis, Trustee Patricia Kalkanis and Community Relations Director Amy De Boni and some residents.

The mayor's preference is for residents on the committee to have a background in design or art — "some training and experience in good aesthetics, if you will," he said.

The chosen flag will be submitted to the Village Board for approval, which Argoudelis expects won't be hard to get, to be established as Plainfield's flag.

"This is something that could be utilized as branding and a symbol of civic pride [in Plainfield]," Argoudelis said.

The design for each flag must be original work and fit a 3-by-5 ratio. Artists submitting a design are also encouraged to follow these guidelines:

• No lettering, seals or logos
• Keep it simple
• Use two or three basic colors
• Use meaningful symbolism
• Be distinctive and related

The village posted several resources, including a document about "good" flags versus "bad" flags on its website.

Submission forms and flag designs should be emailed to flagcontest@goplainfield.com.

Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect that the deadline was extended from Dec. 1 to Feb. 1.