Brand identity
City flag redesign
Syracuse’s original flag broke nearly every rule of good flag design — built around a city seal and unrecognized by most residents. Eric Hart, owner of Hartbreakers, designed a flag to give Syracuse a symbol its people could finally embrace. It was officially adopted as the city’s flag on June 14, 2023.
Brand extension
Design collections
Hartbreakers extended the Syracuse city flag into four collections — Official, LGBTQ+ Pride, Irish Emerald, and Black Excellence — each honoring a distinct piece of Syracuse’s identity while staying rooted in the same civic visual language. The result: more residents can see their own story reflected in the city’s flag.
Web
Learning Center
Hartbreakers built the Syracuse City Flag Learning Center, an educational site where residents can explore the story, symbolism, and proper display of the city flag. It turns the flag from a static design into cultural infrastructure — helping the flag’s meaning stay accessible long after its adoption.
E-Commerce
Shop
Hartbreakers launched First Light Syracuse Goods, the official e-commerce shop for the Syracuse city flag. From flags to pins, patches, and stickers, it gives residents a direct way to bring their city pride home — and take it with them wherever they go.
