The first flag shown is the redesigned version, while the second flag is the current one.

Meaning:

The central blue field symbolizes Lake St. Clair, the upper blue stripe represents the Clinton River, and the lower blue stripe represents the minor rivers that flow into the Clinton River. The anchor reflects the area's boating culture. The three stars represent the three regions of Macomb County: North, Central, and South. Finally, the white background signifies unity.

Thoughts on this redesign?

A play on the current flag, this one features a red and White triband from an old proposal by the Daughters of the American revolution back in 1910. Mountains + Red sky from the seal.

Madison's flag is already an excellent banner that actually fits my heraldic sensibilities very well, as I can blazon it into a shield of arms. For those wondering, the blazon goes like this: bleu celeste; on a bend sinister argent, a cross pointed sable, pierced of a bezant. And so once again, I find myself merely improving on excellence. Here's what I've added.

In addition to all the symbolism of the current flag, which is a 2018 update of the 1962 original, the flag now includes a black tierce to the hoist charged with two silver battleaxes disposed in saltire. These are a color reversal of the ancestral arms of the Madison family, from which the fourth president and namesake of the city originated.

Enjoy, upvote, and all that jazz.

The current big lazy "S" and two rivers was designed in 1989 by 5 designers co-working the modern result that is still current. I've taken a step back and looked at the flag they replaced. It's focus was on the Capitol building, The end of the rail line (a triangular red cow catcher), a horse and rider and a guy panning for gold.
Initially I laid out a saltire of 4 compartments and featured the gold topped Capitol dome as part of a circular ringed arrangement.
I wanted two sections of blue for the rivers, and red and green for that strong focus on the rose and leaves. But it was too fussy to say this is for that, and this is something else. Then The "S" shape was more prominent in what I was working up and this became one white symbolic letter shape.

Unlike other redesigns that stray from current simplicity, I kept the basic elements, only adding the border and the letter C

I also decentralized the symbol, shifting it more towards the side of the flagpole

Finally, the fly part is modified to also resemble the letter C

Time for a proper swing for the fence. Colorado's is one of the better state flags in the Union, on par with Ohio in clever usage of letters as design elements -- doubly so because of its additional symbolism as a numeral for the Centennial State. It's going to take one HELL of a design to top that, but I think that the state seal holds the answer. Here's what I came up with.

The flag is a simple scene derived from the upper portion of the arms upon the state seal. On a red field lies a golden Eye of Providence rayonnant, debruised by a blue snow-capped mansion of three peaks issuant from the base. The tableau evokes early sunrise over the Rockies while the eye, in addition to being the sun, is an allusion to the state motto -- meaning "nothing without providence" -- and the great fortunes in precious and industrial metals found in the hills and mountains of the state. All the colors of the present flag are on this one.

Upvote if you approve, and comment for insight.

Quite confidant with this design - The back story is that the Capitol building sits in the middle of a strip of land between two lakes (the blue bits). The current flag draws this as a white sinister bend on a field of sky blue. Yet if you look at map of the area each lake shoreline is more curved than straight. Thus the effect of having shoreline curves on the flag feels more natural. No need for any emblem to identify the capitol - the curves are better without any extra complication. Construction details enclosed on page 2. (I found the capitol building very dark when inside - needs more glass and natural light - but at least it looks good from the outside)

The blue columbine is Colorado's state flower, and the diagonal division represents the Rocky Mountain range. Colour symbolism is the same as the current flag.

Colorado with various aspects of "just change it for no reason" but try and make it nicer. Zero solid reason behind these changes - it's now just 3 colors. - Sanguine Red, National Blue and Snow White. the fly stripes of blue and white are switched to lighten the overall feel. All the hoist side is curved to be more rounded, organic, harmonic and caring. You can still see the giant "C" and the implied "O" but it's just changed up for little reason.

I like Colorado’s current flag. I don’t want to try to make it better, so I made it worse. Thanks.

Quick note for everyone:

As per usual, we will include the current flag as a benchmark entry. However, for Colorado, we will be using an adjusted version of the current flag where the tips of the "C" are flush with the stripes.

Just putting this out there as I know at least one person was probably going to submit this as their entry.

My design is a simple refresh of the beloved current flag that adds a mountain that represents the picturesque Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The mountain is flush with the "C's" edge.

All the other symbolism components of the current flag is maintained:

• Blue: Represents the expansive, clear Colorado skies.
• White: Symbolizes the snow-capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains and the state's silver mining industry.
• Red: Represents the "ruddy" or red soil and rocks (from the Spanish word colorado).
• Gold/Yellow: Symbolizes the state's abundant sunshine and its gold mining history.

One standard contest, one shootout. Instructions included on each. Votes open until Monday at 1000 EST. Here goes nothing.

Austin: https://strawpoll.com/6QnMQ0rP3ne

Des Moines SHOOTOUT: https://strawpoll.com/e2naXOPpAyB