“Awesome Axolotls” Patrol Patches

2024

An AOL Patrol from Pack 531 in Scouting America’s Pacific Harbors Council commissioned two patch designs: one patch to be used as their official patrol patch and one that could be given to scouts as they move from Cub Scouts to Troops.

When designing these patches, I first sketched out four designs to have the AOL scouts choose from based off of their chosen patrol name, “Awesome Axolotls.” The scouts then voted on their two favorite designs, one that could be used as their patrol patch for their uniforms and one they would receive at graduation.

Following Scouting America’s patch design guidelines, I illustrated two axolotls for each patch that would fill the requirements and also fit the scouts’ preferences. The uniform patch illustration (left) comfortably fits within the small circular patch while still full of fun detail and color. Since the scouts wanted “cool words” that could not be on the shirt patch, I included typography that fit the theme of the graduation patch’s illustration (right). I used Niagra Solid for the main words, which I manipulated to fit around the skateboard in the illustration. Using Subway Berlin SC as a base, added paint drips on their Pack number to look like graffiti and add to the “cool skate park” theme the scouts wanted. In addition to the pinks found on axolotls’ bodies, I also used blue and yellow in the graduation design as a nod to the traditional colors used for Cub Scouts.

Made with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Fonts used were Niagra Solid and Subway Berlin SC.