Designing your Team Button

Important Notes

• Buttons are a great way to share team spirit and increase team awareness during competitions

• Designing a team button is optional, but is a very common giveaway in FIRST

• Teams that do not exhibit Gracious Professionalism to their teammates during the design process may forfeit their opportunity to order custom buttons.

1. Collaborative Team Design Process

• 1. Brainstorm Together: Gather the team to discuss theme ideas, logos, or graphics that represent your team's identity for the season. This can include attributes of your robot, team number, or the season game theme.

  2. Voting/Consensus: Have team members sketch rough concepts and decide on a favorite design to build in Canva or design software.

  3. Keep It Representative & Readable: Make sure that your design:

     1. (optional, but encouraged) Includes your team name and team number, making it clear and legible even from a distance.

     2. Demonstrates Gracious Professionalism.

2. Best Practices for Designing in Canva

• Dimensions & Safe Area:

  • Buttons are circular—keep essential text and main graphics centered within the inner "safe area" so nothing gets cut off or wrapped around the rim during assembly.

  • Standard button size is typically 2.25 inches (unless specified otherwise). You can check out all the button options here. 

• File Format & Resolution:

  • Export your final design as a high-resolution PNG or PDF.

  • Keep in mind that small details and similar colors might blend together when printed at a small scale.

• Sharing Your Design:

  • Submit or share the editable design link (e.g., Canva link)

    1. Include Button size, and number to order. Talk with your coach to determine how much money is available for purchasing buttons

3. Key Deadlines

• Custom Button Designs Due: October 1

  • Submitting by this date allows adequate time to review, set up files, ask clarifying questions, and order the buttons before competitions.