03 · Signal Fundamentals
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Why Flags Still Work

1
Built for Distance, Not Decoration
Every flag reads clearly at two nautical miles in open sea, rain, or fog. Legibility is the first and only design constraint.
2
Five Colors, Zero Compromise
Red, yellow, navy, black, white — chosen for maximum contrast against sky and water. No pastels, no ambiguity.
3
Geometry Carries Meaning
Stripes, saltires, crosses, and triangles each encode distinct messages without a single letter. Shape is language.
4
Legible from Any Bearing
The design holds whether slack in calm air or streaming in force-eight wind. Orientation is built into every field.
This is the Maritime Signal Flags design system, applied by Curio Design — a design-style library for AI agents. Full Maritime Signal Flags guide → designbycurio.com/learn/maritime-signal-flags-ics