16 Arnaud Naômé Common Vexilloids proposes an inquiry into the symbolic universe of flags, emblems, pennons, and other objects historically used to signify affiliation. Traditionally, such objects affirmed belonging to nations, feudal orders, cities, armies, families, companies, and other collectives. Today, their functions extend far beyond these contexts, serving as markers of cultural or social identity as well as instruments of branding and political messaging. The histories, symbols, and customs associated with vexilloids provide both a vocabulary and a framework through which students can imagine and design new objects, opening possibilities for fresh affiliations, emergent communities, and alternative modes of belonging. The very act of synthesizing, curating, and deciding what to inscribe upon these flags compels us to interrogate the meaning of belonging itself, how it is constructed, how it evolves, and how it might be reimagined. Vexilloids also invite us to conceive of new collectives grounded in shared commons, drawing upon the poetic textures of everyday life to construct identities that resist opposition and foster inclusivity. Such symbols might serve as subtle yet potent acts of revendication, transforming into poetic articulations of political voice. The workshop will challenge each student group to create a flag for one of these newly imagined communities. By critically analyzing, reinterpreting, and creating taxonomies of existing elements, inventing new symbols, and assigning novel meanings to colors and shapes, students will produce multiple flags or emblems that together constitute a meta-community of their own design. Productions will preferably use reused materials, found objects, and simple techniques in accordance with a low-tech, low-impact ethical approach.
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