The current design is from 1945, with slight changes after Alaska and Hawaii joined the Union:
However, the first proposal for a president's flag dates from 1817! Its author is Samuel Chester Reid, that also helped creating the rule that a star should be added to each new state while the stripes are fixed in 13. In a reproduction by George Preble:
Or, in a poor reconstruction of how it could look today, by me:
That flag was divided in four quarters, maybe inspired by British royal standard: on the first, a blue background with as many white stars as the number of states; on the second, the coat of arms in white field; the third, white, with a representation of Lady Liberty; on fourth, thirteen red and white stripes.
I decided to take inspiration on Reid's proposal to create a less boring presidential flag:
I decided to remove Lady Liberty, because she gets many different depictions e.g. the Statue of Liberty, in New York, and don't fit the rectangle well. The background of the design ins inspired by the current flag, with two quarters with the stars and two with the stripes. In the center of the flag, the coat of arms, like in current one.
I like it. I'm not sure about some hidden stars, though.
Comments are welcome.
Be gentle on comments, please.