Visible from the outdoor quad and upon entry, colorful prints wrap the ground-floor exterior wall of the arena-style classroom housed within a concrete drum. These art pieces reflect Texas A&M’s traditional gonfalon flags–one for each of the University’s 17 colleges. Prior to this installation each college’s flag had varied widely in style, color palette, and tone, lacking a cohesive look to tie them together. Furthermore, because the flags were only brought out for display on graduation day, students and their families were largely unfamiliar with the meaning behind their very prominent role in the ceremony.

To restore the significance of these flags, we designed refined artwork for each–adhering to the historic meaning of their elements while bringing cohesion and a fresh aesthetic. The color palette, previously a chaotic 75 colors, was simplified to 26—all while maintaining a unique color for each college based on traditional academic regalia.

The resulting large prints bring warmth and vibrancy to the architecture’s neutral and textural palette. Each newly framed gonfalon is paired with a plaque that deconstructs the meaning behind its components in a clear, cohesive voice for students, faculty, and visitors. Now featured prominently in the building’s entry, these gonfalons–once scarcely seen–are perfect for sharing academic Aggie pride on social media.