Ascending jagged line with starburst. | Max Rabkin |  The "Best of Show" and "People's Choice"

 The People's Flag of Sioux Falls

Designed by Max Rabkin


The central feature of the design is the stylized falls in blue and white. The blue is the same shade as on the Flag of South Dakota and the sun also recalls the South Dakota Flag, representing Sioux Falls’ importance in the state. The pinkish red recalls the Sioux quartzite quarried in Sioux Falls, from which many of the important buildings in the city are built. The upward direction of the central design represents the growth of Sioux Falls. The combination of red, white and blue recall the American Flag, while the design and precise shades are distinctive.

The Story.

In April 2014, leading design voice, Roman Mars, visited Sioux Falls to participate in an event focused on creativity and community, OTA14. During his presentation, he noted that only three major United States cities lack a city flag: Fargo, ND; Hilo, Hawaii; and Sioux Falls, SD. In the immediate aftermath of that event, we received dozens of emails and calls recommending that the creative community lead the charge to change that fact. We were eager to do so.

The CESFBCSF (Committee to Establish A Suitable Flying Banner for the City of Sioux Falls) was brought together to help move the flag initiative forward. This committee and the effort it lead reflects the true spirit of collaboration in our community. Three organizations, OTA , AIGA South Dakota and the Sioux Falls Design Center pooled time, talent and resources to organize and lead the process of education, engagement and community empowerment.

Over a two month period, CESFBCSF hosted a community town hall on the principles of flag design (led by a national flag expert), solicited and received over 90 flag designs, worked through a two-stage paneled jury voting process and engaged over 3,000 rated votes from the public at large.

Flag Expert Ted Kaye shares the elements of quality flag design with members of the Sioux Falls creative community in April 2014.

The involvement of local citizens is quite noteworthy. Designers, from 5 years old to over 65 years old, contributed time and talent at the prospect of being part of something bigger. And, three thousand individuals set aside 30 to 60 minutes to review each design and seriously consider its representation of the present and future city of Sioux Falls. All of this work resulted in a gallery showing of the Top 6 flag designs and one clear cut ‘Best of Show’ and ‘People’s Choice’ winner.

The level of feedback we have received on a project of this sort is unprecedented. The public, the CESFBCSF committee, and the national panel of experts on flag design have all given the process and this specific flag their stamp of approval. By reaching out to the many varied city and civic groups and boards, we have made every effort to ensure that full due diligence and broad-based support was generated. We’re please to be at a point where only City Council approval remains.

Tuesday, Jul 10, 2018 the Sioux Falls City Council voted to adopt the design as the official flag for the City of Sioux Falls. The resolution passed with a vote of 8 to 0.

The Community of Sioux Falls reviews the Top 6 flags at the Sioux Falls Design Center gallery showing in August 2014.

In the Media.