The Story Behind the GWOT 100 Digital Badges
Digital Badges from the GWOT 100 event.
The GWOT 100 is a virtual fitness challenge in February that honors the Global War on Terror. Participants log 100 miles through running, walking, rucking, cycling, or rowing and earn digital badges that educate about key historical moments in Iraq. As a designer, I was tasked with conceptualizing these badges, which presented an exciting opportunity to create meaningful symbols that resonate with participants.
Designing the digital badges was not merely about creating visually appealing designs, it was about crafting powerful symbols that hold deep meaning once they are earned. Each badge depicts real units, real equipment, and real missions tied to the Global War on Terror. It was a personal goal of mine that, as people earn a badge, they can capture the dedication, skill, and commitment to the missions and milestones that defined this time period.
The Creative Process
Every element was thoroughly researched and verified using historical references and sources. From C-17s to military vehicles, and from maps to landmarks, all of this information was incorporated into the research process.
Every badge starts with its shape, and none of these shapes were arbitrary. By researching different military units, the shapes of their patches served as the basis for digital badges. I studied unit patches to understand not just how they looked, but why they looked that way. The icons inside each badge serve as identifiers. Vehicles, aircraft, landmarks, and service member silhouettes were custom-illustrated based on documented research. Each icon represents a role or historical piece that carried the mission.
As an example, the "Shock & Awe” badge is awarded for completing 50 miles in the GWOT 100 event. Inspired by the Shock and Awe air campaign, it honors the U.S. Air Force's role during this conflict, when B-2 Spirit stealth bombers carried out precise strikes over Baghdad. The badge's shape reflects the 13th Bomb Squadron, and its central icon features the B-2 Spirit, a key aircraft in this operation.
Shock & Awe Digital Badge
Another example is the “Tomahawk Strike” badge, which is earned for completing 41 miles. This badge honors the U.S. Navy’s Tomahawk missile strikes that initiated Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the USS Cheyenne, which was the first ship to launch Tomahawk missiles during the operation. Historical references like these are significant because they give the badges a sense of authenticity and connection to real events.
Tomahawk Strike Digital Badge
Design as Respect
Ultimately, this project aimed to honor and respect the Global War on Terror (GWOT). It was essential for me to transform the concepts of service and sacrifice into meaningful visuals that convey depth and significance. For those who participate in this challenge, I hope each badge earned helps create a sense of connection to the mission, the history, and the individuals who experienced it.
Join the GWOT 100 Group in the Team RWB App.
Connect with thousands of other participants, share your progress, ask questions, and tell the stories behind your miles. The conversations happening in there are seriously motivating, and you don’t want to miss that part of the challenge.