The Government has some requests for advice from the Coletx for updating or inventing new symbolism for difference offices.
1. The Poet Laureate currently does not have any badge for his office, and we should remedy that.
2. The Directorate of STUFF should probably inherit the symbol for the Ministry of STUFF, but I thought I'd seek input first.
3. The Ministry of Propaganda needs some sort of badge.
4. The Ministry of Public Records also needs some sort of badge.
5. And finally, it's 2026: do we want to possibly change the Ministry of Culture's badge (https://wiki.talossa.com/File:CultureBadge.png)? Last time we voted to retain it, but it's open to misinterpretation and it can be seen as an insensitive "mascot" rather than a Berber tribute, especially considering that the overwhelming majority of people who see it won't know about the Berber thing.
- For this one I would have suggested something with a quill, but since it would use the quartered gules/vert background found in Civil Service positions, it would be too similar to the Scribery (which uses...a quill).
- I'm not opposed to retaining the bridge emblem for the Directorate of STUFF, though we may choose to again update the background to the quartered Civil Service version. Open to what others think here.
- My first thought here was some kind of megaphone as a charge, but actually -- and by happy accident aligning with the arms of the incumbent -- what about a trumpet or horn?
- I actually have two concepts for this one drawn up some time ago:
(https://i.imgur.com/uvcyqea.png) (https://i.imgur.com/rXrARSn.png)
The first is, depending on how you choose to look at it, a form, document, or a bookshelf. The latter is clearly documents.
- My question here is what would we replace it with? Not opposed to replacing something insensitive in the slightest, but if we're going to change something, let's make it a good one so people don't have second thoughts down the line. (First thought was some interlocking rings, a stylized chain of sorts? Shared culture is ultimately what binds any group like Talossa together, after all.
- Adding an item to the list (sorry not sorry) to merge in this discussion (https://wittenberg.talossa.com/index.php?topic=4834.0) and point out that I do have a few other SVGs (Seneschal, Finance, Foreign) I've made to tie everything together with the ARD's recommended shades of green and red (https://wiki.talossa.com/Royal_Academy_of_Vexillology#Recommendations). Haven't done the entire Cabinet yet though.
- Foxmouth
Quote from: Mic'haglh Autófil, O.Be on January 27, 2026, 12:27:42 AMMy first thought here was some kind of megaphone as a charge, but actually -- and by happy accident aligning with the arms of the incumbent -- what about a trumpet or horn?
I believe our own badge already features two horns. Not sure if that's a significant problem, but my first instinct is that we might want to see if we can think of alternatives.
Quote from: Mic'haglh Autófil, O.Be on January 27, 2026, 12:27:42 AMI actually have two concepts for this one drawn up some time ago:
(https://i.imgur.com/uvcyqea.png)
Love it.
Quote from: Mic'haglh Autófil, O.Be on January 27, 2026, 12:27:42 AMMy question here is what would we replace it with? Not opposed to replacing something insensitive in the slightest, but if we're going to change something, let's make it a good one so people don't have second thoughts down the line. (First thought was some interlocking rings, a stylized chain of sorts? Shared culture is ultimately what binds any group like Talossa together, after all.
I don't have a lot to pitch, but some ideas that come to mind: counterchanging the language flag, a lyre, or theatre masks.
Quote from: Mic'haglh Autófil, O.Be on January 27, 2026, 12:27:42 AMAdding an item to the list (sorry not sorry) to merge in this discussion (https://wittenberg.talossa.com/index.php?topic=4834.0) and point out that I do have a few other SVGs (Seneschal, Finance, Foreign) I've made to tie everything together with the ARD's recommended shades of green and red (https://wiki.talossa.com/Royal_Academy_of_Vexillology#Recommendations). Haven't done the entire Cabinet yet though.
Great! Put them on the wiki or attach them here, and let's get them updated.
-SVA
1. My initial thought was an open scroll to set it apart from the Scribery's quill. Seeing the Foxmouth Pursuivant's Public Records suggestions reminded me of Chinese symbols and the fact that Chinese characters have played a part in Talossan imagery since the beginning, so perhaps the Chinese character for "shi/shih" which means poetry (according to my 10 seconds of research):
詩 alternatively 诗 or in Seal Script which I'm partial to: (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/%E8%A9%A9-bigseal.svg/60px-%E8%A9%A9-bigseal.svg.png)
2. Maybe I've missed something, but what is the Directorate of STUFF in relation to the Ministry of STUFF?
3. My original thought was the goatee'd Big Brother from Orwell's 1984 but that might read as Colonel Sanders... then again, why should Culture be the only one with a person's head! (Assuming Culture doesn't get the guillotine treatment!)
Alternatively, something tongue in cheek like a triparted field with scroll, keyboard, and trumpet, or something to that effect.
4. I love both of Foxmouth's ideas!
5. I don't really understand the issue with the Culture badge. I love the Berber connection and would hate to lose it. We could use the Tifinagh symbol that's on the Berber Ethnic Flag: ⵣ
Although I'm sure that would be open to accusations of cultural appropriation.
The SVA's suggestion is probably the safest from naivete and criticism.
-Green Town
The Ministry of STUFF was eliminated during the last government, and its duties were parceled out to a new Directorate of STUFF civil service position under the Ministry of Finance, as well as two new ministry positions with the Ministry of Public Records and the Ministry of Propaganda.
I love the idea of a Berber symbol specifically -- that's better than any of my suggestions. We'd probably need to research the Tifinagh before we settle on that, and find out if it has any other meaning or accidental implication.
-SVA