Designing your own lanyards is a fun and exciting task. Seeing your lanyard design come to life and then be worn by people in your business or at an event is a milestone that every business owner hopes to reach one day. 

And when this day arrives, you might find that you aren’t fully prepared for the task. There’s a lot more that goes into creating a lanyard than you might think, so we’ve come up with this quick guide to designing your own lanyard. We’ll explore some of the most important factors to consider as you create your design.

What kind of printing will you use?

The type of lanyard you choose will determine the design you can create. There are a few main types of lanyards to think about. Let’s explore them below and think about the design constraints you will have to think about.

• Embroidered lanyards. With an embroidered lanyard, a machine will weave the design onto the material. This will result in a one-sided design, with the reverse threads visible on the back. This offers a more refined and traditional look, but you will have to simplify your design. A repeating logo motif is best for this method.
• Screen printed lanyards. With screen printing, the lanyard material is laid flat and a screen printing machine will layer up the design using different colours. This is a fast and effective way to create lots of lanyards quickly. You may be limited in the detail of your design and how many colours you can use.
• Full sublimation lanyards. With this type of printing, you will have free reign to do whatever you like. You can completely cover the lanyard with a complex design that is bonded to the fabric. This results in vivid colours, complex designs and a waterproof finish. 

When choosing your lanyard printing method, you should think about the design you want to include, how detailed you need it to be, and how colourful you would like it to be. While some companies might be looking for a full-colour bright lanyard, others might be happy with white text against a coloured lanyard.

Who will be using the lanyards?

Think about your audience when creating a lanyard. If you are creating lanyards for security reasons, you might need to include a feature to help identify the wearer. If you are creating lanyards for children, a bright and colourful design will be welcomed. And if you are creating lanyards as a giveaway, they should offer bold branding.

What attachments do you need?

When designing your lanyard, you have the option to add custom attachments to the end. How the lanyard is to be used will determine which attachments you need. Below is an overview of the available attachments and how you can use them to make your lanyards more effective.

• A range of lanyard clips will create a better user experience. A lobster clasp is very versatile, but a square clip will make it easier to attach a temporary ID card.
• If you will be using the lanyards for ID cards, you can choose between a card wallet holder, open face cardholder or an enclosed cardholder.
• Fun attachments you can add include a bottle opener or a mobile phone holder. These can upgrade the versatility of the lanyard and make it a more attractive freebie to find in a goodie bag or on a trade stand.

Do you need safety features?

Safety features include a rear breakaway or a front breakaway. These are helpful to ensure that the lanyard will simply break free if it becomes caught on anything. 

For children, this is an essential safety feature and you should consider adding both breakaway clasps for maximum safety. This means if the lanyard is caught on something, or the lanyard attachment is caught on something, the lanyard will just snap open without injuring the wearer. 

Safety features are also helpful on lanyards worn by those working near heavy machinery. A lanyard can present a serious safety risk if it becomes caught on something. With the safety clasps, the lanyard will just pull away and leave the wearer uninjured.

Would plain lanyards work?

A lot of companies get caught up in the idea of printed lanyard when plain lanyard might be more suitable. If you aren’t using them for branding purposes, you could save money by using plain coloured lanyards. Colour coded lanyards can be useful in a work setting to help identify different teams, or they can be used at events to help security know who is allowed access to different areas.

If you aren’t sure if lanyards will work for your business, using plain lanyards as a test run can help you to decide if your workers will adopt them and use them. And if you need support creating your design, the Lanyards Online team is here to help!