Employee Collector's Pins
We wanted a fun way to recognize employees, so we created a series of collector's pins that people could earn and collect. I designed and illustrated 11 of the pins, which were printed as acrylic pins that people wore on their lanyards.
The problem
We wanted to recognize people for the things that make a team great, from shipping releases and writing documentation to mentoring and showing up for team events. A thank-you in a meeting is easy to forget. We wanted something people could earn, show off and collect.
The approach
Each pin needed to feel like its own reward while still belonging to one collection. I gave every pin a clear shape and a single bold icon, so it reads at a glance even at pin size. Small recurring details, like the lightbulb, tie the set together.
The style shifts with each pin's personality. Work milestones like Release Warrior and Documentation Daddies get bold, badge-style designs, while team events like Grill Master and Breakfast Hero get playful, friendly characters. Flat colors and clean outlines kept every design ready to print as an acrylic pin.
The collection
The outcome
People loved collecting them. The pins turned recognition into something visible and fun, and people proudly added each new pin to their lanyards.