vex·il·lol·o·gist | /ˌveksəˈläləjist/ | noun

Flag expert. (flag nerd.)

  1. A person who studies the history, symbolism, and design of flags.
  2. The expert journalists call when flags make headlines. See: Michael Green.
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As seen in
The New York Times
The Washington Post
PBS
TED
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Ad Age
About

Most just call him
a "flag nerd."
or a "vexillologist," if you want to be fancy about it.

Michael Green is a published vexillologist, the Technical Editor of The Complete Guide to Flags of the World, 4th Edition, and a two-time TEDx speaker. He has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, PBS documentaries, and Encyclopædia Britannica.

He started Flags For Good out of his spare bedroom with two goals: to only make flags he beleived in and donate a portion of each to relevant causes. Since then, Flags For Good has donated over $350,000 to world-changing organizations, hired some amazing people, opened a flagship store & HQ, and now serves as the Official Flag Supplier to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

📚
Technical Editor of 'Flags of the World, 4th Ed.'
Fox Chapel Publishing · The definitive global flag reference
🏴‍☠️
Founder & CEO of Flags For Good
Indy-based flag company
🎤
Public Speaker
TEDx, Creative Mornings, Podcasts
🏁
Official Flag Supplier of Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Bringing biodegradable flags to motorsport
🎥
SAG-AFTRA Member
Cleared for professional on-camera productions
Michael Green looking at Denmark flags
Michael Green with a Swiss flag
Michael Green, vexillologist
Why flags matter

"Flags are the simplest form of design, but somehow they evoke the deepest emotions within us."

— Michael Green, TEDxTAMU

Speaking & Talks

Flags draw crowds and spark conversation.

Recent Press & Media

Flags make the news
more than you'd think.

State flag redesigns, Supreme Court controversies, neighborhood flag feuds. When journalists need someone who knows the history, the principles, and the politics, they reach out.

"How to design a new state flag" (video)
Encyclopaedia Britanica
October 2024
"Flag drama is not just for the Supreme Court"
The Washington Post
June 2024
"What Kind of Flag Can I Fly Outside My House?"
The New York Times
April 2021
"Why Do Diferent Countries Have Different Flags?" (audio)
'Moment of Um' Children's Podcast
February 2024
"Downing of a Flag" Documentary
PBS
July 2021
"The phrase 'Black Lives Matter' is now a common sight. Is it a sign?"
The Washington Post
June 2021
"What Do Gadsden Flags and Pride Flags Have in Common?"
Reason
May 2023
"Twitch Influencers Ruined r/place For Everyone"
Vice - Motherboard
April 2022
📺 Available for Media

Need a flag expert
on camera?

TV segments, documentaries, podcasts. Michael explains the history and politics of almost any flag in plain language, on deadline. He has done it for PBS, Britannica, and local news stations across the country.

Get in Touch →
Flag Explainer Series

Watch the work.

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Field Research

Flags tell global stories,
and Michael has visited over 75 countries
learning and collecting along the way.

Vexillology isn't a desk job. The best flag research happens in the field, on poles, in markets, at protests, and at celebrations.

Published Work

In print & on record.

Technical Editor · 4th Edition
Fox Chapel Publishing

Consulting

Flag design consulting.

2:3 canton

Cities and organizations across the country are rethinking their flags. Michael has judged redesign efforts through his work with NAVA and knows where most processes go wrong. Good public input doesn't automatically produce good design. Bridging that gap takes someone who understands both vexillological principles and how communities make decisions.

He has lectured at Duke University and Texas A&M's Mays Business School on the overlap between flag design and civic identity. He brings that same framework to consulting work.

Municipal & city flag design review
State flag redesign consultation
Sports team & organizational flags
Vexillological standards & principles guidance
Advising community redesign processes
Custom flag commissions via Flags For Good
Start a Conversation →
Flag design

5 Principles of
Good Flag Design.

From the North American Vexillological Association's 'Good Flag, Bad Flag,' the framework every good flag is built on.

01
Keep it simple
Simple enough that a child can draw it from memory.
02
Use meaningful symbolism
Colors and imagery should relate to what the flag represents.
03
Use 2–3 basic colors
High contrast, from the standard heraldic color set.
04
No lettering or seals
Never use writing or an organizational seal...they don't scale.
05
Be distinctive
Recognizable at a glance. Use similarity only to show connection.
Michael Green personal swallowtail flag
Questions

Frequently asked.

Why do you care so much about flags?+
Flags are the simplest designs that carry the most complex emotions. They can unite a country or start a war. I got into them because I'm a graphic designer who realized that a small piece of colored cloth is one of the most powerful pieces of communication a community can make, and most people treat them as afterthoughts. Someone has to take them seriously.
What makes a good flag?+
A good flag design is identifiable at a distance as well as a small emoji. It's simple enough to draw from memory, meaningful enough to be worth drawing, and distinct enough that you know immediately what it represents. Most flags fail at least one of those tests. The best ones, like Indianapolis, Chicago, and New Mexico, pass all three.
What is a vexillologist?+
A vexillologist studies flags: their history, symbolism, design, and cultural use. Coined by Whitney Smith (the father of Vexillology) and derived from the Latin root "Vexillum" (flag) and "ology"(the study of). Vexillography is the art of designing flags. I'm kinda both. I research and write about flags, as well as design and produce them through Flags For Good.
What's the story with you and the Indianapolis flag?+
Before Roger Gohl passed away, he entrusted me with the original artwork for the Indianapolis city flag. It's one of the most meaningful things I own. Roger reminded me that behind every flag is a person who made choices, and those choices echo for decades. That's why this work matters to me.
How quickly can you appear for a TV segment or interview?+
Quickly. I can join via Zoom within hours. Indianapolis also has excellent broadcast studios available for hire, including green screen setups. Typically available within 24 to 48 hours.
Contact

Let's talk flags.

Producing a segment, planning a speaking engagement, or thinking about redesigning your city's flag? I respond personally and quickly. No assistant, no form letter.

Media appearances Speaking Flag consulting Partnerships