Up in the air: color guard flag design
In 2025, designed custom flag patterns for the final movement of a color guard performance exploring themes of flight and weightlessness, culminating in the moment the performers reach the sun. The designs were created with motion in mind—using bold color, contrast, and flow to feel expansive and luminous as the flags moved across the field. Rather than static graphics, the flags functioned as part of a dynamic visual system, enhancing choreography and emotional impact. The final result created a sense of lift and arrival, visually reinforcing the show’s climactic ending.
Early design explorations focused on capturing lightness, motion, and upward movement while testing how color and form would translate at scale. Initial concepts experimented with incorporating a paper plane motif as a literal signal of movement and flight. Through iteration, it became clear that the element felt visually clunky and created unnecessary clustering when viewed in motion. Removing the motif allowed the designs to feel more open, fluid, and expansive—better aligning with the emotional build and clarity needed for the final movement.
