Nordic Cross

A Nordic cross is a cross whose vertical arm is shifted toward the hoist, so the arm on the fly side is longer. It first appeared on the flag of Denmark, the Dannebrog, and every independent Nordic country now uses one: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

The shared layout is the clearest example of NAVA's advice to be distinctive or be related. Each flag stands on its own, yet the cross shows the countries belong together. Iceland and Norway also add a fimbriation around the cross.

The flag maker has a Nordic cross layout. Click the field and the cross to recolor them, or add a second, slightly wider cross from the Shapes tab for a bordered version. A centered cross, like Switzerland's, is a different layout. The flag design ideas guide shows both.