How to Design a Photo ID

Thanks to developments in card and badge printing technology, designing a photo ID card has become more dynamic than ever. Now, along with printing basic photo IDs, card printers can produce multifunctional ID cards using technologies such as magnetic stripe, RFID, and smart card encoding.  These features, along with other design elements can really increase the security and functionality of your cards.

When designing an ID card, there are several key elements to think about. Consider the following when planning the layout for your organization's ID card:

• What is the card's purpose? Will it be used as an employee badge? Student ID card? Rewards card? The card's purpose should help you determine what information should be on the front (and back, if necessary) of the card.
• How will the card be used? Will the cardholder have to show the card to anyone? Will it be swiped? Will it be used every day or only occasionally? Determining the card's primary use can help in determining the visual design of the card - how large the photo and text needs to be, the color scheme, etc. For example, a customer rewards card administrator may choose to have a brightly colored design with a large company logo. This gives it a better chance of not being lost in the depths of a wallet forever, and its design may prompt cardholders to use it more frequently.