Updated 1/10/24
A badge visual is the graphic representation of your badge and the associated metadata. Badge visuals provide brand recognition, establish credibility, and represent your designation. The badges you create will be broadcast across the web at a variety of scales and in a variety of contexts. As a result, simplicity and clarity are key.
Overall badge visual goals:
- To establish credibility of the issuing organization
- To be recognizable as an extension of your brand
- To have visual impact and balance
Badge Templates must use square images in PNG format, with dimensions of at least 600x600 pixels. In order to make the most of your badge we encourage you to create a shape that completely fills that square dimension.
Here is a simple list of best practices to guide you:
- We recommend leveraging flat, two dimensional design principles. This creates a clean design that is easy to read and understand, even at small sizes.
- Simple, bold graphic designs are the most memorable and recognizable.
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Use simple shapes. Complex shapes are not scalable and may not complement your brand.
- Avoid gradients, bevels, shadows, and excessive ornamentation.
- Vary colors by designation, achievement level, or program.
- Use contrast to distinguish between elements, text, or program.
- Avoid white-on-white and light-on-light.
- Badges need to scale well and text should be legible, even at small sizes. The visual is a representation of the badge and all critical information should be reserved for the metadata (e.g., you don’t have to put a long title on a badge visual if you are repeating that in the metadata).
- Excessive and small font text is not recommended.
- Preview your badge at small sizes to ensure the text and graphics remain legible.
- Use vector-based design to be sure your badge visuals can scale to any size in the future.
- When two logos are required on the badge to represent co-issuing organizations, make sure you have permission to use the logo. Also, be sure the logo sizes are consistent and one does not dominate the other.
- We recommend choosing a badge shape that complements your brand while not distracting from the information it contains.