The flag has an aspect ratio of 10:19, same as the national US flag. The shape of the flag is asymmetric, roughly representing the shape of Minnesota’s borders. The color scheme of the flag includes a dark gray, matte white, and the crimson red used by the U of M. In the upper canton lies a four pointed, red star surrounded by a white outline. Surrounding the star are five small white circles laying in the general area of Minnesota’s five largest inland lakes (which are designed to look like a Loon’s plumage).
The overall design of the flag is meant to be reminiscent of the state bird and is designed to stand out among all over flags due to its unusual color scheme and geometry, especially among other state flags. The dark gray color represents the color of the winter night sky and Minnesota’s racist past. The white color represents the color of snow and the pristine nature of the State’s wilderness. The red color represents Minnesota’s native heritage, mineral wealth in the Iron Range, the history of the State’s labor movement, and the dynamic future to which the state aspires to achieve.