Badges, buttons and pins have been around for more than a century. Today they're everywhere: on lapels and bags all over the world and in the sketchbooks and on the screens of some of the hottest graphic designers, artists and illustrators. A badge can be a cheap and easy way to display political or cultural affiliations or it can simply be a fashion accessory. Cheap to produce and easy to make at home, the humble badge is the new T-shirt. A guide to the best and most beautiful badges being produced right now - be they graphic, textual or plain illustrative - this book explores the rich variety of uses of the badge since the year 2000, whether it be promotion, revenue-raising or simply decorative. The book will appeal to graphic designers, illustrators, fashion designers, artists, music lovers and badge enthusiasts of all ages.

Gavin Lucas is Staff Writer at the leading monthly communication arts journal Creative Review. He is the author, with Michael Dorrian, of Guerrilla Advertising: Unconventional Brand Communication.