First Names Come First
We meet a lot of people at conferences; the most important thing to remember is their first name. Well-designed nametags feature the first name in a large type. For first names, use a bold type in a 36- to 40-point size. Other information can be in a smaller point size, but don’t go any smaller than a 13-point type.
Use a Legible Font
Wouldn’t that Old English-style font be cute for the conference of Gothic romance writers? No. Don’t make networking an unnecessary challenge by using fancy fonts that are always hard to read.
Choose instead a strong, legible font. PC Nametag, which makes nametags for thousands of events each year, recommends sans serif fonts such as Arial or Helvetica. Other suggestions are the free fonts Expressway or Blue Highway, which replicate fonts used for roadway signs.
Use Plain Colors
Take an easy-to-read type font and print it in deep blue on a black background, and you’ve just thrown readability out the window. Stick with a white background and dark ink; black and dark blue are easiest to read. It might seem boring, but it’s better to have readable nametags than to drive your attendees batty.
Stick to the Basics
Nametags should include more than a person’s name but not much more. Most meeting experts recommend including a person’s first and last names, company name and, in some cases, title, although job titles can be unwieldy and less than meaningful — just try squeezing Associate to the Executive Manager of Marketeering and Conservation Efforts on a 3-by-4-inch card. Remember that attendees will have access to a registration list or can exchange business cards.
