Comments on: Building a Better Conference Badge

By: Lisa Narvaez

Lisa Narvaez — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 15:00:38 +0000

Do you have a recommendation on badge equipment? We actually take pictures of attendees and put them on the badge. The problem we are having is the quality of the photo. I really don’t know where to look. We are currently using Aptika’s ID Pack. This is a great software but the camera situation is a problem. We were also looking into using maybe the Ipad or Windows RT Surface to use as a camera and attendee check in but the ipad is not great with windows and we have yet to test the Windows RT Surface. Any suggestions is greatly appreciated.

By: Dirk

Dirk — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:44:01 +0000

Mike, I found your site a few months ago and loved the layout! I have a conference next week and these look great! Only problem is my skills with AI are not as good as Photoshop lol. I figured this out when I first started messing with them but forgot what I did. I did something to the text where each letter is separate ( I think it’s rasterized?). Anyway if some can give me push in the right direction I appreciate it. :-)>

By: SJ

SJ — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 01:54:22 +0000

Thank you. Love your writing and great points raised. I manage some events and have a similar beef with the name tags. Good to see some constructive ideas. Also, as a side note, your “About me” page is pretty amazing.

By: Zumel

Zumel — Sat, 22 May 2010 14:01:04 +0000

Hello:

I was searching in google because I just got hired to create name tags for a Video Conference, and I have never done that before. This page has helped me so much… now I have an idea more or less how to create these tags. I was not sure if I should use InDesign… Or what typeface would be best. Thank you all so much for your comments. I really need some help with this. :)

By: BontioBumblebee

BontioBumblebee — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:58:32 +0000

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the S.O.B. I organize conferences for senior executives (think OWM–old white male)and a readable name badge is key. So are locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables to keep their hearts beating for another day of networking ;)

By: meanjean

meanjean — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:49:16 +0000

i’m coming to this late, but i am glad i stumbled upon this post. i’ve been working for the same conference several years now and need some font advice. all templates must be set up to run and batch process through standard PC applications (excel, word, etc.) and must use standard PC fonts as the location of each conference changes from country to country and the office computers are set up a mere 7 days before the conference begins. all materials are printed and produced on-site, using these basic laptops and office equipment. the conference is a high-level international security workshop (= lots of older eyes). the badge templates are currently set up in a word document and the name font is currently verdana bold, while the title and institution are in an italic serif (most likely times new roman bc of the limitations). what standard PC fonts might you suggest that would be better? not much choice. btw, since everything is batch processed, the font size is limited to 18 pt for the name, 14 pt for the title and institutions, i think, as we have to accommodate some pretty long-ass int’l names and titles. thanks!

By: elena guzzella

elena guzzella — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:40:25 +0000

Hi, very interesting… can we translate and put on our website (www.mktnews.it)? Of course we will link the original article…

By: simon jackman’s blog » name tags at conferences

simon jackman’s blog » name tags at conferences — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:46:59 +0000

[…] Some wisdom on this from Jason Santa Maria (with a lovely looking blog, btw) in turn referencing Mike Davidson: […]

By: VT1300: Communication Design (Fall 2008) » Blog Archive » Badges? We don’t need no stinking badges.

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:32:46 +0000

[…] for example, your typical conference ID badge. Mike Davidson pondered on the topic last year. (Go on—give it a read. I’ll wait.) What problem was he out to solve? Or, in other words, […]

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:29:54 +0000

That’s what I used —

http://flickr.com/photos/redux/307193578/

By: Northern Voice 2008 recap | DoYVR.com - Do Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada!

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:40:39 +0000

[…] Building a Better Conference Badge is a good read for all organizers. The NV nametags definitely need a redesign. Space for user-tagging is a good idea, but you need to tell people to do it when you give them out. […]

By: The Ultimate Conference Badge « Pathable’s Weblog

The Ultimate Conference Badge « Pathable’s Weblog — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:11:50 +0000

[…] year, Mike Davidson wrote a great post entitled “Building a Better Conference Badge“, in which he harangues the makers of conference badges for their poor design. He talks about […]

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:59:26 +0000

@Jason Lee: that is a cool service. Thanks!

By: Jason Lee

Jason Lee — Fri, 23 May 2008 21:53:32 +0000

My solution to this conference nametag problem might be of interest:

http://big.first.name/nametags

By: Leanne MacDonald

Leanne MacDonald — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:04:23 +0000

I use a badge holder that has a “pocket agenda” in the bottom half, with the back page for notes. the name badge uses a 30 font for the name on a 2 1/4 x 3 1/2 name card. I’m tempted to put “If you can read this – flip me over” or “Hi, I’m John – would you mind flipping me over?” on the back of the badge, thought it would be a good ice-breaker/conversational piece, but maybe not for this crowd. anyone see anything cool done on the back?