Designing a badge is no easy task

WHEN the pioneering batch of students at Meridian Junior College entered the Pasir Ris school in 2003, they did not have a badge for a year.

That was because school officials were continually refining the crest to reflect the junior college's vision. They also had to go back to the drawing board when one preliminary design turned out to be strikingly similar to the Singapore Management University emblem.

The final design, with an image of a lion, was ready in early 2004.

'It was our objective to create a badge that was distinctive and represented our school,' said principal Esther Lai.

The junior college's experience shows it is no easy task designing a school badge. But that has not stopped many new schools from being creative with their designs.

Some schools get their teachers to design the badges while others work with branding companies and graphic artists.

North Vista Primary principal Phua Kia Wang, an art lover, designed his school's badge.

He studied well-known emblems - such as those of package delivery company UPS, football club Arsenal and car company Subaru - before sketching out the initial design of the badge. He worked with a graphic artist to come up with the final product.

The three-month process culminated in a badge which included a banner, laurels and a shield, all traditional badge adornments. But it also incorporated a globe and the North Star.

The end result? A badge which reflected the vision of North Vista, which is to be a school of the future but is also grounded in traditional values.

Many other schools have badges that focus on contemporary elements. Hougang Primary, for instance, used an image of a child with outstretched arms and a globe.

It was designed by the teachers with feedback from parents.

Vice-principal Cindy Lim said the badge would show pupils 'the vision of the school, which was creating a dynamic environment for them to grow as global citizens'.

Innova Primary's badge, which has a red star to represent a 'bright and happy pupil of Innova celebrating success', was designed by the teachers, who later worked with a professional for the final design.

Principal Michel Saw said: 'The letter 'I' was drawn in a brush stroke but is pixellated towards the top to represent the importance of being grounded in traditions and values while being innovative at the same time.'