Badging Beef

 I loathe badges


Drop The Mic Obama Mic Drop GIFfrom Drop The Mic Obama GIFs
Now it's only fair that I give you some insight into my disdain for badging. 

I wasn't familiar with badging until my most recent role. At first introduction, I thought the concept was really cool. However, in practice, I quickly noticed a flaw. There was no industry recognition for the badges my team created. While our primary badge(s) are widely used, I've found that our stakeholders are often unsure how to leverage them. 

This week has challenged my stance and frustration with badging. As I learn more about design principles and their value to learners, I'm starting to second-guess my stance. My frustration may be an indication of my own misunderstanding of the badge's purpose and its value.

P.S. If you're reading this I finally figured out how to embed a gif. 

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