Chances are: You’ve probably been to at least one or two conferences in your professional career. Most of them have the same look and feel. You check in at registration, grab a program or a map, and then the worker at the kiosk hands you a name badge. At that moment, you may not have considered how much time and creativity is required to create a clear and concise conference badge design.
The name badge design is one of the most integral promotional products at conferences. Every attendee that walks onto the trade show floor or takes a seat in the audience needs a name badge. These name badges help identify all of your attendees. With the right design choices you can help foster authentic networking opportunities, and encourage everyone to build connections throughout the duration of the conference.
However, you can’t just simply order conference badges with a template you found online. You need to put thought into the creativity and consider your goals for attendees.
Not sure where to start? That's where Bagmasters is here to help.
Here’s how you can create an event badge design that stands out:
Step-by-Step Guide to Event Badge Design
Step 1: Start With the Name
The attendee's first name needs to be nice and big. This will ensure the name is legible from a distance. Consider at least a 72pt minimum font for the front of the badge. If it’s not easy to read from at least 15 feet, it may make it harder for individuals to build connections and spark conversations.
The last name can be a larger font too, but it doesn’t need to be an equal weight as the first name. Consider adding the last name right below the first name in bold but slightly smaller font size.
Step 2: Choose a Clear Font
The font you choose doesn’t need to be anything fancy. Remember, the goal is to keep things readable at a glance. You don’t want to make it challenging for your attendees. This can cause unwanted frustration and make it harder for your attendees to introduce themselves to other attendees. Consider a simple, san-serif font. These are the go-to font for badges because the font is easy to work with on basic designs and get the job done.
Step 3: Add the Conference Title
Your conference branding deserves some recognition, too. However, it doesn’t need to be too big or overwhelming. Simply add the conference title to the bottom of the event badge design in a small font. There’s no need to include the conference date or location.
Step 4: Add Your Logo
Your logo should be on the front of your conference badge design, somewhere above the conference title and below the attendee name. Make sure your logo isn’t competing with the attendee’s name.
Step 5: Capitalize on the Back Side
The back of the conference bag is a great marketing opportunity. You can add a thank you with a promo code, the wi-fi password, or sponsor marketing. You may also want to add a fun conversation starter to the back of the card to encourage networking.
Step 6: Add Subtle Design Components
Lastly, incorporate your brand or conference colors into the event badge design. It doesn't need to be too distracting from its purpose. Consider something like a city skyline, lines, shapes, or bold colors.
Step 7: Aim For Quality
These conference badges are a reflection of your brand, and you should treat them that way., You may feel tempted to invest in the cheapest option you can find. However, a good name badge and holder will show attendees that you care about quality and want to provide the best networking opportunities.
When you invest in high-quality materials, you can also reuse them for future events. At the end of the conference, your employees can take the badges from attendees, recycle them, or use them again next year.
Step 8: Choose an Adjustable Lanyard
Once your event badge design is complete, it’s time to choose a lanyard. Lanyards come in a wide range of sizes and styles. You want to make sure the lanyards are adjustable to ensure everyone can adjust the size and look to fit their needs. This will ensure everyone is comfortable wearing their conference badge throughout the event.
Conference Badge Accessories and Promotional Products
The best time to invest in promotional products is during a conference. Conferences and tradeshows provide optimal opportunities for your brand to get the recognition you deserve and to leave a lasting impression on the attendees. They help you make new connections and stand out from your competitors. Everyone that attendees will have a little piece of your brand they get to bring home with them, which will keep your branding top of mind for future business opportunities.
Here are six conference swag items you can use for your upcoming conference:
Trade Show Tote
- Increase brand visibility at the conference or on the trade show floor
- A useful tool that every attendee will need
- Fun branding opportunities to showcase your branding
- Best-selling custom tote: Trade Show Open Tote
Retractable Badge Holder
- Makes it easy to share your badgewith other attendees
- Subtle branding opportunities and playful colors to choose from
- Attendees can use it after the conference ends
- Best-selling custom hand sanitizer: Retract-a-Badge Holder
Jotter Notebook
- A useful item to help attendees take notes
- Most are made with recycled or sustainable material
- Low-cost giveaway item that’s easy to brand
- Best-selling custom hand sanitizer: The Recycled Jotter With Pen
Badge Holder
- Great giveaway item at the conference or on the trade show floor
- Keeps your badge protected for longer conferences
- Vinyl strip to showcase trade show ribbons
- Best-selling custom badge holder: Velcro Dual Pocket Holder
Branded Table Covers
- Get your brand recognized on trade show floors
- Spark conversations with potential prospects on the floor
- Helps create a cohesive and consistent branded experience
- Best-selling custom table cover: All Over Dye Sub Convertible Table Cover
Custom Lanyards
- Great opportunity for sponsorship branding
- Can be used after the event is over
- Wide range of branding capabilities to choose from
- Best-selling custom lanyard: Dye Sublimated ½” Lanyard
Level up Your Branding With Bagmasters
Conferences of every kind are an exciting branding opportunity. As you work on your name badge design and look for fun and innovative ways to create a memorable look, don’t forget to lean on Bagmasters for all your promotional products for the event. From tote bags to t-shirts, we’re a one-stop shop for all your conference needs.
Start shopping our trade show and conference collection today to get started.
