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The Guiding Principles of Flag Design are codified standards of good flag design, developed by the Joint Commission on Vexillographic Principles and adopted by The Flag Institute and the North American Vexillological Association | Association nord-américaine de vexillologie as their official policy.

In May 2014, the Institute and the Association agreed to work together to adopt common vexillographic principles. To draft the Principles, the Institute and Association each appointed two commissioners, and these four commissioners then recommended a fifth commissioner. After approval by the presiding officers of the Institute (Charles Ashburner, FFI, chief executive) and the Association (Hugh Brady, FF, president), the commission elected a chairman and consisted of the following: Graham M.P. Bartram, FFI, chairman; Edward B. Kaye; Jason Saber; Charles A. Spain, WSF; and Philip S. Tibbets.

Terms
The Principles are based on the following understandings.


 * 1) The Institute and Association as Members of the Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques accept the definition of vexillology in FIAV Constitution article 2, which is “the creation and development of a body of knowledge about flags of all types, their forms and functions, and of scientific theories and principles based on that knowledge.”
 * 2) The Institute and Association recognize that vexillography, which is the art and practice of designing flags, is allied with vexillology, but is not synonymous with that discipline.
 * 3) The Institute and Association further recognize that while vexillography may embrace aesthetic values, vexillology does not.
 * 4) The Institute and Association agree that to a vexillologist there are no bad flags, only flags to be studied; accordingly, the Principles will not be regarded as vexillological principles.

Principles
The principles define the terminology used, and go on to discuss the "basics" of flag design (simplicitly, distinctiveness, timelessness and the fact that a flag should be designed as a dynamic object rather than a flat rectangle), and the uses of color, structure, devices and symbolism.

Adoption
The Commission's report, submitted 1 October 2014, was accepted by the presiding officers and adopted by both the Institute and the Association. Accordingly, the Principles are official policy statements of both The Flag Institute and the North American Vexillological Association | Association nord-américaine de vexillologie.