Psst! Are you in on the pin game?
Just scroll through pictures tagged #PINGAME on Instagram and you’ll see artists like @innerdecay or @rosehoundapparel racking up thousands likes, followers and loyal customers. How do they do it?
Designing a Stunning Pin
A great lapel pin should be iconic.
Design: The design should be simple and bold, with colours, letters and contrast working towards an image that is clear at a small size.
Concept: The subject of the pin should be memorable. Perhaps a reference to pop-culture, a short quote or a visual pun.
Finding a Niche Audience
Audience: Who is the intended audience of your lapel pin? Since pins are a great way to show your love for a subject, it helps to have niche group who will be in love with your design the instant they see it. Some niche audiences include:
-
- Pop-culture obsessed fans: Just look at all the awesome pins and fan art for TV shows, books or movies. For example The Simpsons, X-Files, Seinfeld, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones and Stranger Things all have a ton of great pins and fan merchandise.
-
- Sub-cultures members: A pin just for vegans? For scientists? For punks? These self-contained groups are perfect audiences for your lapel pins because they have a passion and community around their common interests. If you connect with these sub-culture members with a creative design, you’ll be sure to gain attention and make sales, but you’ll also meet an eccentric group of interesting people!
-
- Geographical community members: Pins aimed at a specific geographical area can be a big hit. Perhaps all the members of a Toronto neighbourhood or even all people from Canada. The key is to find a unifying symbol that represents that community’s pride. The more proud the community, the more sales you’ll make!
- Employees and loyal customers: Proud employees of your business will wear their company’s pin on their denim jacket when they go out after work. Loyal customers of your business will be excited to get a free pin with their order, and it may help build their loyalty further. Choose a cool design or retro logo for more street cred 😉
Ultimately pins are a visual medium. A little icon that tells the world “I love this thing!” Keep an eye out for people that want to represent their community and their passion. Talk to them and design something they love!
Choosing the Style of Pin
What’s the difference between hard enamel and soft enamel lapel pins? What about photo
Should you get rubber stoppers or metal clasps?
There are so many options in the pin world! You can check our pin page to see our catalog or contact the Artik staff for one-on-one help.
These questions can be confusing when you don’t have the samples in your hand. We want to make it easy to find the right pin!
Soft Enamel Pins
Soft-enamel metal pins can be very colourful and have a recessed metal texture you can feel. Soft enamel is the most popular style, loved for it’s bold look. These pins can be very detailed, but they look best with relatively simple or cartoony designs.
Hard Enamel Pins
Hard enamel pins are flat, shiny and though they are less colourful, they look so beautiful. Choose hard enamel when you want a professional, chic look. Hard enamel pins are flat and not textured and they can stand up to the elements for longer than the soft enamel style.
Photo Etched Pins
Photo etching is a unique method that can make amazingly detailed lapel pins. We recommend this style if your design has small text elements and needs flexible
Are you in?
Artists, companies and entrepreneurs across Toronto, Vancouver, New York and all around the world are getting in on the lapel pin game. Are you in?
Read more about making lapel pins from this awesome guide by the folks at Shopify!
Tags: Lapel Pin, Medal, Coin, Cufflinks, Tie Bar, Keychain, Book Mark, Bottle Opener, Caddy Coin