Learn how and why to make badges for events

We know that many organizers choose to invest in just a sticker pasted on the attendee’s shirt where they write their name (or whatever they want) instead of an appropriate badge model.

However, making badges for events is very important not only for you, the organizer, but mainly to stimulate the networking among the participants!

Planning an event also means planning the flow of people and finding an effective way to supervise the check-in of persons, whether they are collaborators or visitors.

This is where the role of the identification badge in your event comes in!

Using credentials for events, communication between your team and attendees becomes more personal and less technical, because with the badge you can identify people’s names.

Not investing or investing the wrong way in badges, however, can break the experience of attendees at your event.

The purpose of this article is to teach you how you can make, in the best possible way, the credential for future events that you will organize.

In addition to giving some tips on what to do when planning the badges for your event. 

Why use badges for events?

Badges are often used at academic and scientific events as a way of accrediting participants. 

This is because it facilitates interaction between participants. It also facilitates assistance when the participant needs guidance.

The badge has the function of signaling who are the people authorized to walk around in the most diverse areas of the place.

You can also use it as a fully personalized item, which reflects the image of the brand and works as a tool for dissemination and communication. 

Namely, badges for events are a way to reinforce the branding of your event. 

It is very important to invest in the image of any brand or business. Por isso, elaboramos um Ebook gratuito de branding para eventos e você pode baixá-lo gratuitamente agora:

You can also create specific and distinctive badges for groups, such as for the organizing committee and for attendees.

With this, you can differentiate the staff and speakers from other people quickly and easily. In addition to signaling to attendees to whom they can ask for help in the course of the event.

How to make badges for events?

1. Define the information

The first thing you should define is: what does your badge want to communicate? It is very important to know what information people will carry around their necks.

In addition to the standard (first and last name), you can include information such as:

– Company/Educational Institution;

– Category of the participant: Teacher, Students, Speaker;

– Social Networks;

– Photo;

– Event schedule;

– Sponsors’ brand.

A tip: put only what is necessary so that attendees, staff and supporters of the event have the best experience.

Too much information can get in the way. 

2. Pay attention to the measurements of the badges

Size is something that matters, and a lot, when talking about badges for events.

A safe and practical option is to use the most commonly used measures for badge production! They are from the A6 models (10.5×14.8 cm).

Another widely used measure is A7 (7.4×10.5 cm). However, the decision of the measure is at your discretion!

The size of the badge itself depends on the amount of information you want to display.

You should evaluate your strategy and the amount of information that should be entered on the badge.

Therefore, before producing, it is indicated to test the size of the material and whether it is possible to read and understand what is written on the badge, without losing the standardization of the product.

3. Set the style of the badge model

Do not forget that badges have two sides, and you can also use the back side usefully and creatively.

So the size of the information is another thing you should pay attention to.

If the font used is too small or too large, the badge may fail to fulfill its purpose. 

We recommend a preferred order in terms of information size and proportions:

– Last name: larger font of the badge and preferably in bold;

– First name: a little smaller and not necessarily in bold;

– Position/Company/Institution: smaller than last name;

– Other information: that’s up to you.

One of the most common uses of the back of the badge is the event schedule. This is a way to reduce costs and make life easier for attendees!

This way, you avoid using other material to distribute the list of lectures and schedules to participants, that is, it ends up having less costs, less waste and more practicality.

In addition to leaving the schedule always within reach of the attendee!

Since the back of the badge doesn’t need a lot of visibility, you can use smaller fonts and take advantage of the space to present more information.

4. Customize

Make different badges for the different categories.

A tip for the customization of the credentials in events, is to use different colors for different categories: attendees, staff, speakers, etc.

This way, everyone is better identified.

Colors are easier to identify from afar. In addition, they give an extra touch of customization and attract the attention of attendees.

Believe me, it makes all the difference for attendees to receive the appropriate treatment. In these times, every detail counts.

Therefore, easily identifying them is an important requirement to meet your needs in a practical way.

Types of Badges

Event badges are usually only used on the day of the event and then discarded.

Ideally, it should be made of paper. On the other hand, the badge must be resistant, so that it does not tear before or during the event.

To make a sturdy badge it is advisable to work with papers of weights from 250g to 300g.

There are 3 types that are most often used when making badges for events:

Badge to be printed

You can create badge templates and have them ready for attendees to print in the standard size they want!

This is a way to mitigate printing costs, isn’t it?

Badge with plastic holder

Some organizers choose to use a plastic envelope to protect the badge.

In this case, you should not stop investing in the paper of the badge, even if it is covered with plastic.

You also have the opportunity to use the proof of registration as a way for attendee to check in themselves and also as a badge.

One way to print this type of badge is through event production platforms.

When using these platforms, the attendee has the possibility to print their proof of registration.

Ensuring faster check-in, as it has a QR Code, in addition to the activities in which they have registered.

And with this format you can manage the check-ins through your smartphone. Getting practicality and gaining time on your event.

And, of course, the most used: badge on paper and rope

You can use special papers, a good paper for printing badges is glossy and 300g , it is resistant and has a relatively low cost.

Printing of labels

Well, after choosing everything that is related to the badge of your event: size, style and material, what is missing?

You can choose to make ballpoint pens available for attendees to fill out information, or you can print labels!

In this case, the best option is to print all the paper. You can send it to a printing house to print and cut the labels.

You can also use your own printer, there are very good models of specific printers for this, for example:

  • Brother thermal label printer
  • Label Writer 450 thermal label printer

These printers work by thermal printing, so you don’t have to worry about ink cartridge.

But, before buying, check if your event will have the support needed, because these printers are desktop, that is, they need a power source and to be connected to the computer.

Where to do it

Badges can be made in printing houses or printed by the attendees themselves.

The printing house requires a larger organization, since there must be a quotation of the values and also include delivery expenses.

There are online printing houses that can facilitate the production of these badges and also make the organization of your event optimized.

With the hiring of online printers you have a fast production and with less labor expenditure of your organizing committee.

I hope these tips help you plan your next badges. If you haven’t created your event with Even3 yet, acess our website and take your first steps with us! 

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