5 Tips for Designing a Winning Event Badge

February 11, 2020

When hosting a trade show or conference, an event badge can play a significant role in how attendees remember their experience. If you’re planning an event this year, put some extra effort into creating a winning badge that will help brand your event. Color-coding badges to easily identify speakers, exhibitors, volunteers and attendees not only makes it easier for event participants but also for security personnel to see, at a glance, that people are in the right areas at all times.

When creating a badge for your trade show, think about how to make it stand out, easy to read and, most of all, attractive enough for attendees to want to display it after the event is over. You’re not just making badges, you’re helping make memories, so let’s look at what goes into creating a great trade show badge.

There are several ways to design your badge, from using free or low-cost templates available online to working with a graphic designer (working with a designer can help make sure the fonts, colors and placement all follow good design rules). You’ll also want to bring in a few extra sets of eyes to review the badge designs before you print them. Make sure that all the text is proofed more than once (and by different people) to spot typos as well as grammatical and punctuation errors. Then, follow these five tips to create a custom event badge that makes a lasting impression.

  1. Think Big: Badges come in all sizes, but they’re going to work best when you go big. Not only are they easier to identify from farther away, but they also give you more real estate to play with and more opportunity for including different elements. Make your badges at least 4” x 6” — and don’t be afraid to go bigger.

 

  1. Prioritize Your Information: Regardless of how big you make your badge, there’s still a finite amount of space, so choose your information wisely. First names, in particular, should be large and easy to read, since that enhances networking and helps attendees recall one another’s names.

 

  1. Make It Colorful — and Memorable: This is no time to be shy. Bold colors are your friend when it comes to creating a great event badge; use the same designs and colors found on your event brochures for branding consistency. Certain color combinations are more eye-catching than others, so work with your designer to make sure that you’re getting the maximum amount of “pop” to your design.

 

  1. Consider Adding Sponsors: If sponsors are part of your event, add extra value to their sponsorship by including their logo on your badge. Several sponsors’ logos can be integrated into the overall design of the badge, or, if you have different levels of sponsorship, you can choose which levels will include placement on the badge. Then, use that as an incentive for upgrading their support.

 

  1. Let It Work Overtime: As long as you have space, there’s no reason to limit your badge design to the front; the back of a badge can be put to work as well. Consider including a map of the trade show floor on the back of your badge, or include a QR code that links to a schedule of events. 

 

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Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact
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