Sunda Tiger Conservation Badge

Crafting a Die-struck brass pin badge

Problem
The client asked for a collector’s piece that could hold attention longer than a campaign. It needed to be small, affordable and physical. The subject was the Sunda Tiger, but our focus was on how to express strength and rarity through a single object.

We had worked earlier on a commemorative coin. This time the idea had to be wearable. The challenge was to keep the depth and weight of the coin while producing something lighter, simpler and suitable for short-run manufacture.

Design development
We started by reviewing the coin reliefs and sketching ways to adapt them into a compact frame. The first drawings explored how the tiger could sit within foliage without feeling boxed in. From those sketches we modelled several options in CAD, testing how far we could push relief before the brass would distort.

We modelled the face and surrounding leaves as separate parts so we could adjust scale and angle easily. The tiger was built first, using planes and cuts rather than surface detail. Around it we added broad ferns and folded leaves to build movement and depth. The upper leaves push forward, the lower ones recede, so the whole piece reads as motion rather than ornament.

Once the structure worked, we rendered test versions to study how light moved across the surface.

This confirmed which areas needed to lift and which to stay flat, keeping the face dominant and the foliage balanced. We produced a colour render to check how light would flow across the metal even though the final piece would be uncoloured.

Production
We produced the badge as a die-struck brass pin with a single post and clutch back. The brass allowed clean edges and consistent strike pressure. Relief depth was refined by tenths of a millimetre to hold definition without thinning the metal. The surface received a light polish on the high points and a satin seal across the base. This contrast defined the tiger’s features clearly without using enamel.

Working with a local press meant we could test early strikes and adjust before the run. The reverse included a recessed area for engraving or a small QR code linking to the conservation campaign. Every detail had a purpose.

Outcome and value
The finished badge keeps the presence of the original coin but works as a smaller and more direct piece. It has weight without bulk and reads clearly at a glance. The fixing makes it easy to wear, while the relief gives it depth when displayed.

Produced as a limited run through conservation partners, the badge worked as both fundraiser and collectible. It proved that disciplined craft can carry the story on its own.

We design, model and produce die-struck and enamel pieces for brands and organisations who value clarity and precision. Let’s talk about your next piece. – Contact us