These days, most offices and corporate venues will have employees and visitors wearing ID card lanyards. While some organizations choose to use boring, unbranded lanyards, progressive organizations are starting to see the visibility of lanyards as being more than just a container for corporate ID badges. They use customized lanyards as a marketing tool to strengthen their brand identity. Using customized corporate ID card lanyards provides a stronger sense of security, cohesion, and professionalism. Partnering with a lanyard manufacturer is a low-risk way to make a highly optimized investment.
Lanyards are more than just a way to hold a badge at an event. They are an opportunity to promote your company’s brand to employees and guests at every event. Lanyards can help with company and event security by standardizing badges. They can also include breakaway clasps. At corporate events, lanyards can manage access to certain areas while promoting a feeling of inclusion for those who receive them. A lanyard with an engaging design can serve as a reminder of company pride. This guide will assist you in customizing lanyards to best fit your company’s specific needs for lanyards and storage options.
What design and material options are available to help create your company’s branded look with the lanyards you provide? When customizing lanyards, you want to think beyond the standard logo to lanyard design. A cohesive custom design for the lanyards can provide brand expression.
To begin, let's discuss color and printing techniques. You can customize your lanyard with your brand's Pantone colors for easy brand recognition. For lanyard logos and text, there are several printing techniques to choose from. For example, dye-sublimation printing permeates the fabric of your lanyard giving it a vibrant, photorealistic, and long-lasting finish. This printing technique is perfect for complex logos. If your lanyard has a bold logo with solid colors, then classic silk-screen printing may be a good fit for your brand. If your lanyard's logo is a classic, premium, and textured logo, then a woven label may work. This technique is often used for premium brand tags and lanyards giving it a textured finish.
Secondly, let's discuss lanyard materials and widths. The most common materials are:
Polyester: This is the most common choice. It is especially good for lanyards that will have logos printed with high-definition, plus it durable, and affordable.
Nylon: This material is very soft and has a slight sheen. For those that plan to wear the lanyard for longer periods of time, then it is the most comfortable material.
Eco-Friendly Alternatives: If your solidary brand focuses on sustainability, destroyed cotton, and other materials like recycled PET (which is made from recycled plastic bottles), may be the best choice. It shows your commitment to sustainability.
A lanyard's width impacts its appearance, and comfort. Most lanyards are 3/4 inch (19mm) but can be custom ordered to be narrower or wider.
While the physical appearance of the lanyards may be important, the functional components of the lanyard, including its security and safety mechanisms, are just as important.
The connector or clasp is the most important feature that is used to attach the badge to the lanyard. Swivel hooks, also known as bulldog clips, are most common and versatile, and can attach to most pre-punched ID badges. Small keyrings work for a more secure option, and to stop badges from flipping or turning over, some people prefer plastic badge reels which allow ID cards to be pulled out and retracted. Some companies use a j-hook or lobster claw for a more rugged or heavy-duty look. A good balance must be struck between security and ease of access to the badge so that cards are not falling off.
Every workplace is different, whether it's an office, lab, factory, or even a trade show, a standard lanyard can create a snag or choking hazard when caught on machinery. A simple and effective solution can be mass produced lanyards with breakaway safety clasps. When moderate pressure is applied, these safety clasps will break apart, preventing an injury. Adding these safety clasps shows a company's concern for the safety of employees, and is even an industry standard for certain companies.
The clasps can be adjusted for even more functionality. A split ring that holds a set of keys can be attached to the clasp. A secondary strap can even hold a USB drive or a work tool. These extra features transform a simple strap into a multifunctional tool and a more valuable lanyard to employees.
Corporate ID card lanyards can be designed to align with a company's operational and ethical frameworks. They can work with a company’s security protocols while providing an indication of the company’s work culture.
Think about how technology can be integrated when considering lanyard solutions. While lanyards are relatively simple products, they can be part of a more sophisticated system. For example, a lanyard supplier that partners with a wristband manufacturer often understands access control and may offer better solutions. These partners can recommend lanyard solutions that work with high-tech badges and may suggest options like QR code tags to facilitate event check-in. Such a solution can promote faster check-in and access control.
Align lanyard designs with your corporate values and campaigns. If innovation is a core value, a sleek badge reel design with a modern tech look may be a good fit. If teamwork is a core value, using lanyards as part of a departmental color-coding system can promote a sense of togetherness and make it easier to identify people during large meetings or across multiple departments. For corporate conferences, promotional products like custom logo wristbands are proven to enhance brand visibility and engagement, and the same concept applies to lanyards.
Getting from idea to custom lanyards is most successful when an experienced manufacturer is your partner. Knowing what to expect and what to look for helps to foster that idea into a box of lanyards.
Begin with requesting physical samples. Consider a manufacturer that has samples for materials, printing types, and clasp styles. This helps you evaluate the look, feel, and quality—digital mock-up can never give you these attributes. Feel the fabric, test the breakaway clasp, and check the color accuracy under office lighting.
A true partner offers end-to-end service and expertise. Find a manufacturer that is “all customizable” with a professional team that guides you from concept to delivery. They should ask you about use case, quantity, and timeline. The “own factory” model is a big plus for them, as it means direct control over quality and pricing, and that the samples you approve will match the bulk order.
Lastly, discuss timelines and logistics. A partner with “quick logistics” and multiple shipping options will ensure your order is delivered on time, whether it’s for a new hire orientation or a big international conference. Working with your supplier in advance helps avoid last minute pressure and ensures your new, branded ID card lanyards are on time for a professional touch.
ID card lanyards can be customized to achieve a lot more than just look nice. Moving past the generic options and investing in a lanyard design that incorporates brand visuals and company values, helps unify employees, and gives them a sense of collective company identity.
Quality manufacturers, like D&K, take into consideration the entire process of designing and customizing lanyards, including the materials, the design/printing, the safety clasps, and the attachments. They provide the quality control and expertise to ensure lanyards meet company standards, and pride. Carefully and customized lanyards are a small detail that can be impactful in so many ways.
