7 things to include in your accreditation badge design

When it comes to accreditation badges, there are two core objectives. Your marketing team needs them to reflect brand guidelines, and your security team needs clear ID and access permissions.

A correctly designed accreditation badge or pass that contains anti-counterfeit measures and the right information will give your contractors, staff and media efficient access to your event and help keep illegal workers, ticket fraudsters and potential criminals out.

What should accreditation badges or passes include?

1. Branding: badges are the gateway to your event, so you want them to look good and be consistent with your brand. Ensure there is space for your logo and incorporate brand colours, where possible.
2. Photo: a quick and easy way for your security team to check whether a person is who they say they are.
3. Credentials: make sure there is sufficient space on your accreditation badges to print someone’s name, job title and company if required.
4. Badge type: different groups of people will have different privileges, so add an icon or a colour strip to signify whether someone is media, a VIP, or part of the catering team.
5. Access permissions: whether it’s a green dot to signal backstage access, a dinner plate icon to get into the kitchens, or an initial to indicate a specific access zone, make sure access permissions for each zone are clear on the badge.
6. Unique ID: hide a unique ID number for every person in a bar code, QR code or RFID chip and a quick scan at your access control points will instantly tell you if the accreditation pass is valid, and whether that person can enter a specific area of the event.
7. Anti-counterfeit measures: the addition of a hologram, black light ink, micro printing or thermal ink makes it very difficult for anyone to forge an accreditation badge or pass.

Advanced ways to make your accreditation badges unique

Including further information on the reverse, such as a venue map, emergency plan, terms and conditions, or event schedule, is useful and makes it harder for someone to forge.

Use large badges to make the ID of photos and access zones easy for your security team to see or scan. Finally, keep new designs confidential to decrease any opportunity for forgery.

If you would like to know how the Accredit platform can help you create and manage your event badges, please get in touch.