Uniforms are mandatory in various professions and industries, such as law enforcement agencies, security companies, firefighters, restaurants, military, pilots, hotels, and more. Besides, uniforms must have distinguishable patches to ensure a professional dress code. Therefore, designing customized patches for uniforms is a crucial aspect since these patches serve as identification for the person wearing the uniform and also show their affiliation.

Given the significance of patches on uniforms, today we will discuss how you can design patches for uniforms and what key factors you need to consider. Read ahead to know what you need to plan while being considerate and paying attention to detail.

Steps to Follow for Designing Patches for Uniforms

Step 1: Understand the Purpose

The foremost step in designing patches for uniforms is to “understand the purpose.” You need to understand the purpose of the patch for a particular uniform, according to the industry and profession, type, and placement of the patch beforehand. Moreover, you need to understand the intended message and the audience.

You need to ensure that the patches are designed in a way that portrays each designation’s significance. For instance, patches designed for different ranks within an organization, specifically in military or law enforcement uniforms, may vary. However, this might not be the case when you are creating patches for uniforms of a sports team, employees of a company, club, or any other association.

Moreover, it is vital to understand the type of patch required on a uniform and where it should be placed. You must learn more about the patch placement to ensure it meets the requirement of the industry and profession and also delivers the intended message. Therefore, before you finalize a patch design or even start creating one, you must first understand the purpose and be cautious about why you opt for a particular design.

Step 2: Consider the Design Elements

The next step is to consider the design elements. The design elements that you need to focus on include the patch’s size, color, and shape and the icons to be used in the patch design. For instance:

• The shape of the patch needs to stand out and must go well with the design of the uniform. Some of the most widely used shapes for patches are circles, rectangles, and triangles.

• You need to keep an eye on the size of the patch as well. It should be proportional to the uniform rather than being over or underwhelming from the overall appearance.

• Consider the color palette. The patch color should complement the uniform and be consistent with the organization’s branding.

• The icon you use needs to be unique and easily recognizable. Focus on having a clear yet distinguished logo or symbol representing the organization. You can even go bold with your design to make it look distinctive.

Step 3: Sketch and Refine the Design

The third step is to sketch and refine the patch design. Begin by visualizing the concept you want on the patches. Once you have finalized the design, transfer it onto paper and sketch out every detail; no matter how small, you can use pens to indicate the specific colors.

You can either sketch the design using the conventional method or computer-aided design (CAD) software. Create multiple design iterations, which will help develop a more refined design.

Step 4: Go Bold With Your Patch Design

You can make a bold statement with your patch design, depending on which profession or industry you are designing the uniform patch. Focus on the essential elements you want to showcase on the patch instead of including too many ideas. To create an attractive design, consider using a border in a contrasting color that unifies the overall appearance and enhances its visual impact. Avoid adding too many design elements onto the patch, as this can result in a cluttered and ineffective design.

Step 5: Choose the Right Materials

You have finalized your mockup; the next step is to choose the right material for the patches. Don’t compromise on the patch material to be placed on a uniform. It should be durable and withstand the wear and tear caused by daily use. The most common materials used for patch design include woven or embroidered fabric, leather, and PVC.

Embroidered patches are stitched onto a fabric backing, whereas woven patches are made by weaving the design into the fabric. PVC uses a rubber-like material, whereas leather creates the most durable and professional-looking patches.

Step 6: Know the Border Options

Lastly, consider the border options. You can choose from two types of borders in embroidered patches: hot-cut and merrowed. The traditional, classic borders are known as merrowed borders. They are slightly raised and work well with standard shapes like circles and rectangles.

Whereas for custom-shaped patches, go for hot-cut borders. They only stand out a little as they are flatter than merrowed borders.

Conclusion

Designing patches for uniforms is a challenging task. You must be careful at every step mentioned above, pay attention to the details, and ensure your patch communicates the message clearly and serves the purpose. By following the above-discussed steps, being a patch designer, you can create patches that accurately display the idea behind the design and add to the uniform’s overall appearance.

Most importantly, note that your patch design is not a one-size-fits-all approach. The purpose, audience, and aesthetics vary for each organization’s uniform. Thus, as a designer, you should work closely with your clients to better understand their unique needs.