Some organizations miss the point entirely, lumping pins in with stickers, tote bags, or those extra conference tees lying around.
In other words, just more swag. Stuff you hand out. People smile. Then forget.
But the brain of the receiver doesn’t process pins the same way, even if they aren’t consciously aware of it. Pins aren’t just perceived as swag, they’re symbolic.
Treating them the same way is an easy way to undermine what a pin represents. Whether that’s your brand logo, an achievement, or the feeling of belonging when someone becomes a member.
Swag Is Fun. Symbols Get Kept.
Swag is meant to be used, enjoyed, and eventually forgotten. People don’t expect it to hold any real meaning.
Symbols are different. They stand for things like belonging, achievement, identity, and standards. That’s why people keep them. And miss them when they’re gone.
Ever seen someone keep a pin for decades? You already get the point.
A Pin Sends a Message
The brain processes pins differently than ordinary swag, even if we don't consciously realize it.
When someone picks up a pin, their senses take in its weight, finish, details, and edges.
Instantly, their brain starts making judgments: Does this feel serious? Does it matter? These signals come not just from the design, but from the quality itself.
That’s the risk. You can cut corners on swag. No one cares. But if you do the same with something the brain sees as symbolic, it backfires. Even if no one can explain why.
Treat a Symbol Like Swag, and You Undermine What It Stands For
When the brain categorizes something as a symbol, it instantly links how it feels and looks to the value of what it represents.
A symbol’s impact starts in the mind, not just in the eye.
Hand out a pin that feels flimsy, rushed, or generic, and you’re not saving money. You’re telling people your brand, your values, or their achievement don’t matter much, either.
No one will say this out loud, but it still happens on a gut level.
That feeling sticks.
Therefore, a cheap pin isn’t just cheap swag; it makes everything it stands for feel cheap, too.
The good news is, the reverse is also true. A quality symbol instantly elevates the perceived value of what it represents.
That feeling sticks, too.
Look Where Pins Actually Matter
In organizations where identity and standards are non-negotiable, pins are never treated casually.
The military, medicine, skilled trades, and longstanding institutions all use pins with purpose.
Pins signal membership, responsibility, and honor. Leaders in these fields know a pin isn’t just another giveaway. That’s why quality is never optional. The best organizations set a high bar and use their pins strategically to signal what matters.
This is why symbols can’t be treated like swag. You must hold them to a higher standard if you want what they represent to matter.
This Is About Culture. Not Pins.
Culture, whether internal or external, usually doesn’t break all at once. It fades through small signals. Signals that subtly say, 'This doesn’t matter.'
A pin is one of those signals. Done right, it reinforces meaning. Done wrong? It quietly unravels it.
Even if you are using your pins as a giveaway, the receiver’s brain will still make snap judgments about your organization. For better or for worse.
That’s why this matters.
Not because pins are special. Because what they stand for is.
If you don’t respect the symbol, don’t be surprised when no one respects what it stands for.
