Voting is underway to select a new design option for the state of Illinois flag, and two Illinois State University alums, Scott Clanin ’12 and Colleen Hayes ’23, created an entry that is among the finalists.

Clanin and Hayes’ design is on the short list to replace the state’s longtime flag, which has been around since 1915. Among more than 4,800 entries in the Illinois State Flag Redesign Competition, sponsored by the Illinois Flag Commission, Clanin and Hayes, who work together at Clanin Creative in Champaign, made the list of 10 options for the public to vote on now through February 14.

The winning design will be selected based on that tally in early 2025, possibly by April. Then it will be up to the General Assembly to approve the change to the new design or to maintain the status quo and keep the current flag. Either way, Clanin and Hayes are pleased with how well their design has fared.

“I’m incredibly proud of our team,” Clanin said. “We are a small, higher-end boutique type of firm, but it feels incredible to compete and be in the top 10. We’re all from the area, so we’re very proud.”

Clanin became aware of the state seeking new flag design submissions last year and kept a close eye on it. He said there’s a certain amount of pride in participating.

“We’re not being compensated, so this is something of a gift to the state,” he said.

Clanin opened his business in 2015 and is celebrating a 10-year anniversary this month. He said the state doesn’t release the names of the designers or firms who are finalists, but he decided to push the story with some public relations to get the word out.

“We are in campaign mode right now, storytelling and explaining,” Clanin said. “Change is difficult for a lot of us, you think of home when you see the Illinois flag because it’s all we know. But our (current) flag ranks really low for state flag designs, and it’s a hard design to work with because the state seal is too complex and hard to scale down or up.”

Clanin said a good design should send a signal from a distance. He said good examples are the Texas state flag and the flags of Utah and California.

“But you don’t see that with the Illinois flag,” he said. “It’s one reason why the commission started this effort to redesign the flag to keep up with the times.”

Any Illinois resident could submit up to three designs, so Clanin submitted three designs from each of his designers, including himself, for a total of nine. They started with weeks of researching what could represent Illinois in a new flag. They brainstormed as a group, worked on their designs, and then came together for critiques. Ultimately, Hayes’ design was a favorite.

“She’s incredible and a very strong designer,” Clanin said. “She came to the table with talent, and she’s not afraid to brainstorm and put ideas out there. The minute I saw her design I knew it was a contender. We all loved it as a team.

“I, of course, was really proud that she also came from ISU.”

Hayes, a Bloomington native, has been with Clanin for about seven months. She had collaborative input from Clanin and the rest of the team, including Oscar Aguilar, Jess Johnston, and Jason Rietmann. Hayes said she tried out several ideas before hitting on something she liked.

“I played around with different color combinations, different shades and variations of blue, green, yellow, and white primarily on all of my designs,” she said.

Her design’s 21 stripes represent Illinois as the 21st state and reflect its agricultural roots, resembling rows of crops and the open prairie. Three six-pointed stars signify the state’s three regions—Northern, Central, and Southern—while their 18 points reference Illinois’ founding in 1818. A sun on the horizon, a nod to the current flag, symbolizes renewal. The colors—blue for unity, green for agriculture, and yellow for a bright future—honor Illinois’ history and natural beauty.

“Designing a flag for our home state was both a challenge and a privilege,” Hayes said. “My hope is that my design inspires appreciation for Illinois’ past, present, and future, while uniting everyone in our state, no matter where they’re from.”

Clanin said he recognizes that redesigning a state flag can evoke strong emotions, as the current flag is a symbol many Illinoisans hold dear.

Some will notice that the 16th president is not part of the design.

“We respect Abe, and we are the Land of Lincoln, but our state is more than that, so Abe isn’t part of our design,” he said. “Yet, like fashion, architecture, and technology, the symbols that represent us should also evolve with the times.”

Clanin Creative’s submission also pays tribute to Illinois’ deep agricultural roots.

“Farming is and always will be the heart of Illinois and our economy,” Clanin said. “Our design reflects this heritage.”

No matter how the competition turns out, Clanin and company feel the effort has been worth it.

“There’s no money for this, even if we do win,” Clanin said. “This is simply for bragging rights.”

The commission’s top 10 selections are displayed and can be voted for online via the Illinois Flag Commission website.