The Unnecessary Reinvention of Name Tags

A reinvention of anything requires a substantial analysis of what it is.

This reinvention is even true when it comes to name tags and other personal identification. Branding and using identification is something businesses have done for many years. And, it doesn’t matter what the brand is, or what they are selling to the masses.

Let’s take a look at Prada:

Identify Yourself: How Prada Reinvented the Corporate Name Tag

Identity is something every fashion label is obsessed with right now – what it should be, how to get it, how to bank on it. Prada is one of the houses whose distinct, powerful identity is fodder for many lesser talents, which is perhaps why the label’s Autumn/Winter 2018 collections – for him and for her – featured a sly wink and nudge to that idea in the form of ID cards clipped onto models’ collars and chests. They were the kind of name tag a faceless factory worker, office drone or out-of-office visitor might be instructed to wear and keep visible at all times – Prada’s even came stamped with faux corporate identities, logotypes and symbols ironically invented by the fashion house for purely decorative purposes.

Prada has failed to peg the real issue with name tags: discovering brand and personal identity.

After all, this is what a name tag is all about. We will always encourage people to wear name tags with their name and a business or corporate logo. And while it seems that Prada has attempted this with their, albeit ironic, version of a corporate name tag, there appears to be a lack of something fundamental.

Professional tools such as name tags are essential in marketing and communication. They are necessary in providing not only personal identity but corporate branding as well. And, the primary reason for wearing a name tag is to provide an identifying feature for each person.

With so many choices of name tags available, businesses only have to decide which product best fits their needs. From Hot-Stamped Logo Name Tags to Reusable Speedy Badges, the name tag world is best suited to those who know how to use it. Understanding this leads to the fact that a reinvention of this simple tool is not necessary.

Name Tags and Branding

By adding a business or organization logo to a name tag, every employee or volunteer will be identified quickly and easily. Office and retails settings are often the place to see name tags. But, inevitably employees wear these tags when going to lunch or even on the way home. And, while they continually wear these name tags in public, a company’s name and brand becomes available to everyone they pass by. This type of branding can also be beneficial to announce special promotions, sales or events.

Name tags are often the most effective element of a person’s uniform in meetings, at conventions or during any event. Trying to offer a reinvention of this simple feature is redundant and unnecessary.

Employees who wear name tags offer a sense of responsibility that remains unmatched by those who don’t wear identification. These identifiers have become an essential and vital part of many companies. And, they allow each employee to wear any required daily business style or uniform while remaining unique in their aspect and personality.

So, why offer a reinvention of something so tried and true? Let’s leave name tags where they need to be as a part of everyday business life.

10 Logo Tips for Name Tags

What makes a good logo? And how do you use it in your company branding?

Many customers struggle with their company’s branding when it comes to making their name tags. A logo designed for use on the internet or printed media doesn’t typically look as well when you try to fit it onto a name tag.

Assuming you already decided to use your company logo on your name tags, consider these few things.

What process will you be using to create them? A full color printed name tag can hold more colors and detail than a hot-stamped one. Laser Engraving will limit possibilities even further.

Keep the size of the tag in mind. In most cases, logos will be much smaller than what you usually see, and little details won’t be as visible.

Remember that you may have to be flexible in the colors associated with logos. If you choose a yellow tag and your logo is yellow, consider changing the logo to black so it shows up. If you choose a hot-stamped logo, colors are very limited. You may have to compromise with a basic shade of your colors.

When placing a logo to fill the allowable area on a name tag, the smaller the logo, the larger it can be. For logos that incorporate an image as well as text, consider using one or the other.

Keep in mind that the primary purpose of a name tag is to convey a person’s name. Don’t make the names harder to read in favor of a bigger, fancier logo.

There are additional ways you can help logos look their best on name tags:

Try to limit the amount of detail in logos. Smaller sizes will not be visible. And many processes will have a hard time duplicating it. You only need enough detail to make logos recognizable.

Even if you generally use logos on the internet or printed materials, single color logos are best for name tags. Laser engraving and one color hot-stamping need an image that is black and white only. Most logos can be converted into a single color image. But some will require extra effort to maintain the visibility of all of the logo elements.

Logos that are short and wide, such as a company name spelled out in fancy lettering, generally look best at the top or bottom center of the tag. Logos that are square or taller than they are wide will occasionally look good on the left or right side.

Another option you can consider to make your logo look its best on your name tag is to try a custom shape. Design your name tag with a shape that follows your logo, with an extra area to hold names and titles. Custom shapes are only available for laser engraved or hot-stamped logos, but can make any name tag stand out!

Hopefully, these tips can help you out as you design your company name tags. They should give you a big forward step on the road to brand recognition!

Tips and graphics provided by guest author Melanie Bunch, Graphic Artist at Coller Industries.

3 Steps: Find Your Perfect Name Tag

While finding your perfect name tag is not an exact science, it shouldn’t be a chore either.

While placing an order with us for name tags, there are many important things to consider. There are a few questions you should ask yourself when starting on the road to the perfect name tag. While this list is brief, it will give you the guidelines you need to find your perfect fit.

First: Do you need a logo?

While this may seem like a silly question, it is probably the most important. Not all name tags have logos. And some name tag sizes don’t necessarily have room for logos.

Some companies and corporations don’t need to have a logo to identify volunteers or employees. Maybe they just need someone’s first name to identify them quickly. Or maybe they just need a quick title such as “guest” or “volunteer” to provide assistance to clients or event attendees.

Whatever the case, make sure you ask yourself if you need a logo! And, of course, if you do need a logo, we are guaranteed to have the perfect name tag just for you! And that’s where the next step comes in.

Second: Which process fits your name tags best?

Process? What does that mean? Well, that’s an easy question! Do you need something engraved or printed? Here’s the difference:

Engraved: An engraved name tag features two colors: the name tag color and the engraved color. Each tag will have a name, title, logo and any other requested information permanently laser engraved into the tag. If your logo or needs require more than one color, you may want to choose from our printed name tags. If not, these engraved name tags may just be your perfect name tag!

Printed: There are several ways to print on a name tag. UV color, Hot-Stamped or Digital (Full Color) printing are all available for printing your perfect name tag. Premium UV color logo printing is one of the best ways to highlight your logo. The logo is printed on a plastic tag, and any text will be engraved. We can also digitally print a full-color logo and text onto a plastic tag. The text will also be printed in your color choice. The final selection creates a classic, high-quality hot-stamped logo on a plastic name tag and any text will be engraved.

Third: How long do you need to be able to use your name tags?

Durability is just as important as anything else when choosing your perfect name tag. When looking for the right fit, make sure you know how long you will need to be using these name tags. Coller Industries offers a full line of reusable name badges. From adhesive, single-use badges to fully reusable badges such as Mighty Badges or Speedy Badges, we’re sure to have something to meet your needs. If you need something to last a lifetime, we have both plastic and metal name tags that will fit perfectly.

Our Selection Guide is a great resource for finding your perfect name tag, too! Follow the simple online steps to located what you need and how to get it. And ordering is just as easy! Any questions, simply give us a call or chat online as we’re always willing to help in any way possible.