Ever wondered how our unique dog tags come to life? Well, grab a cup of coffee, and let me take you behind the scenes of my design process.
Dog tags may look simple, but trust me—there’s a whole lot of thought, trial and error, and fine-tuning behind each one. From the first spark of an idea to the final product hanging from a dog's collar, every tag is a carefully crafted piece of wearable art. This isn’t mass production—it’s personal. I design each tag from scratch, ensuring it’s not just a product, but a reflection of creativity and quality. And since we just launched a brand new tag design on our webshop, now feels like the perfect time to pull back the curtain and show you exactly how it all comes together.
Let’s dive in!
Step 1: Ideation – Where the Magic Begins
Every great design starts with an idea—and I find inspiration everywhere. Sometimes it’s a funny thing a dog owner says; other times, it’s imagining the kind of tag I’d love to see or a trait that nails a dog’s personality. Whether it’s a clever pun or something totally ridiculous, my goal is always the same: to make people (and their pups) smile.
Tools I Use:
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Apple iPad (iPad Air 11-inch (M2)) and my Apple Pencil Pro
- Apple note app (to write down all the ideas I have in my brain that haven't formed into a visual yet)
Step 2: Sketching It Out
Once I’ve settled on an idea that has potential, it’s time to get sketching. This is where I play around with shapes, line weights, and overall composition. Some sketches turn out like masterpieces, while others… well, let’s just say my delete button gets a good workout.
The "Besties" tag was a no-brainer—my dog was the muse. She’s my ride or die, my soulmate, my sister from another mister. I wanted a tag that captured the love we share.
Tools I Use:
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Apple iPad (iPad Air 11-inch (M2)) and my Apple Pencil Pro
- Procreate app on my iPad
Step 3: The Pinterest Deep Dive
If you’ve ever fallen into a Pinterest rabbit hole, you know how addictive it is. It’s like a treasure trove of inspiration! I scroll through different art styles, color palettes, typography, and—of course—dog-related designs to spark new ideas. Pinterest is hands-down the best tool for visual research, and if you don’t believe me, just spend five minutes on it (but be warned: five minutes can turn into three hours real fast).
Step 4: Refining the Design
Once I have my sketches and colour palette locked in, it’s time to create the final digital design in Procreate. It’s all about making the design look perfect before sending it off for production.
Turning digital designs into dog tags is a bit of a finesse—you’ve got to make sure all details will be big enough for the manufacturer to create a metal mold. If certain details are too small, they may get lost in production.
You also have to ensure that lines aren’t too close together, as this can create issues when making the mold. If the details are too fine, they may blend or not come out as crisp as intended.
Another key consideration? The number of colors. Each additional color adds to the final cost, so I have to be mindful of how many I’m using. While I want the design to be vibrant and eye-catching, I also want to make sure it’s cost-effective to produce.
Step 5: Choosing Colors
Picking the right colors is crucial! I want each tag to be eye-catching but also cohesive. This means experimenting with different color combinations to see what works best.
I usually have a rough idea of what colors I want, but I always look for further inspiration. And this is where Pinterest comes to the rescue again! As I mentioned before, Pinterest has a ton of amazing color combinations to browse through, which helps me refine my final choices. Whether it’s bold and vibrant hues or subtle and muted tones, I make sure my dog tags pop in just the right way. I also got myself a Pantone colour book so I can see colours more accurately—closer to how they'll look once they're mass produced.
Step 6: Prepping the Design Brief for Production
Here’s where the technical side of things kicks in. I put together a detailed design brief for my manufacturer, which includes:
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Size specifications (because no one wants a dog tag that looks like a dinner plate)
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Color profile and Pantone color codes (to ensure color accuracy)
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Special instructions (like if a section should be raised, recessed, or have a specific finish)
I want to make sure my manufacturer has all the details needed to turn my design into reality without any surprises.
Step 7: Manufacturing - Where the Magic (Literally) Happens
I work with an amazing manufacturer who brings my designs to life using a process similar to how enamel pins are made. My designs are turned into molds, and then the dog tags are cast, enameled, and polished to perfection. This process takes about 3-4 weeks, but trust me, the wait is worth it!
Step 8: Receiving the Finished Product
After weeks of anticipation (and probably too much tracking of my shipment), my finished dog tags arrive! There’s nothing more satisfying than opening that package and seeing my designs transformed into tangible products that people (and their dogs) will love.
And there you have it—my entire process, from a simple idea to a finished dog tag that’s ready to be worn by some very good boys and girls. Designing these tags is a mix of creativity, problem-solving, and a bit of patience, but at the end of the day, seeing happy customers (both human and canine) makes it all worth it.
So, the next time you see a cool dog tag, just know—it went on quite the journey to get to you!
Header photo credit: @twodogshavinganadventure (Instagram profile)
