Microcredential Badges

Key Objectives

Differentiation: Develop a unique visual identity for microcredentials with distinct variations for up to four microcredential types.

Cohesion: Ensure a consistent visual system across Oswego’s microcredentials.

Scalability: Allow for easy integration of new microcredentials.

Legitimacy: Communicate the quality of the university’s microcredential programs.

Understanding Microcredentials:
Microcredentials are succinct and highly-focused set of credentials that can take a variety of formats including:

• Coursework alone (commonly three courses)

• A series of workshops

• A combination of coursework and an applied learning experience

• Certification preparation

• Can be credit bearing or non-credit bearing

SUNY Oswego’s microcredentials have associated badges that are hosted via Credly’s Acclaim platform. Badges can be displayed and shared as a way to make the accomplishment visible. Badges are made to be shared:

• LinkedIn

• Facebook

• Twitter

• Via email

• embedded on a website

Credly houses profiles for badge holders, employers and organizations and is one of the largest digital credential networks. Clicking a badge leads to a user profile on the Acclaim platform which helps employers understand and verify the badge holder’s capabilities. Badges help students promote their professional story in a way that is clear, validated, recognized and visible.

Market Analysis: Understand the Open Badges standard. Open Badges is not a specific product or platform, but a type of digital badge that is verifiable, portable and informative about skills and achievements. Analyzed industry standard platforms for microcredentials.

Competitive Analysis: Evaluate microcredential branding among SUNY institutions.

Stakeholder Insights: Gather input from deans, professional staff and faculty.xt goes here

Modular Approach: Create a modular visual system with specifications for iconography, motif and color while maintaining a unified system.

Brand Alignment: Integrate color, form and pattern consistent with university brand.

Credential Badging: Develop badges to represent types of achievement and fields of study.

Type & Imagery: Utilize highly functional type and imagery reflecting professionalism and academic rigor.

Design Guidelines: Establish internal design documentation.

Digital Repository: Create a shared asset repository of native files for easy of access.

Institutional Profile: Brand the landing SUNY Oswego’s institutional profile on the Credly Acclaim platform.