When the United Nations was created in 1945 the first flag was introduced after a special conference. The flag was designed to be universally recognized and to embody the hopes of people around the world dreaming of a more peaceful and united future.

The map on the flag was designed by a team led by a man named Oliver Lincoln Lundquist and was based on an original design by Donal McLaughlin. Although the light blue color itself is insignificant as far as symbolism, Donal McLaughlin chose it as an antithesis to the traditional color of war, which is red.

The map was shown as an azimuthal projection focused on the North Pole, an autonomous and neutral area of the world. This was to show equality and unity of the member nations, so that no one nation would be seen to be any more important than any of the others. The projection is slightly altered so that no country could be seen at the center. The orientation was chosen to present balance between the east and west. The background is a light blue and the map is white.

This adaptation of the emblem includes the Antarctic continent as a ring on the edge of the projection. It excludes meridians and olive branches to be more culturally inclusive.