![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGqjS7cEBafF2f8PuGJ38h-XMRtvZUwkBxo_G8Pya-Jm6BigSSTJO_mFKvW1UwuFRNC_x9lEyIE1grh959fQLSr66_LzCIPza3Dbyjs0l2AFVpOFANgcCQfNMO4uTGoNtceOXx2nGUHs/s400/Arkham+Sanitorium+Patch.jpg)
This is the first iteration, when I was still thinking of having a central design of the Rod of Asclepius with a psi symbol and lantern on either side. I inked the rod by hand and then scanned it in and converted it into a vector image. After doing a few sketches I finally found a shield design that didn't make the "Arkham Sanitarium" lettering look awkward.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnSpJivTwumI8kGeh4P_J_aCghJSN091gQLCMDGsKuf3-BuRQ6TA2DemmyE0I_aINfz41hKmDWDX4-vGDCe5U_hS-kkeSsq5H1LhtR-Mgc2_Zug01OP4c1Wn-ayAqvW-Vv6aHSqCOKgI/s400/Arkham+Sanitorium+Patch+Rev+1.jpg)
The second iteration, with the Rod of Asclepius merged with the greek letter psi used to symbolize psychiatry and psychology. Looking at it now I think it's the best layout of everything I've tried. The curving arms of the psi nicely echo the shape of the shield, but the font is a little weak.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NsKo7-ByUrWBnhh9YeEgC_m3fQoUgsZ2UaLWjDtbxowRX_HvU47MB1ClrnwsE2Y0sUP18ovDBXuxQ16DQ9bklTh7p7PjVPcRMgGr8lbUCX-nOh9c9JtaHug1pepHSOyiZBVu3b337_o/s400/Arkham+Sanitorium+Patch+Rev+2.jpg)
Third iteration, returning to the concept of using multiple symbols. The only thing I really like about it is the font. Everything else is pretty blah.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroipFXo9F2McJiocMzWUYsa2oQ0oRJU-DqMMihOa6eM5sQctDKtb2pHXlVRwhXGhyphenhyphenGuwmnr_s_cwubM0vX_fPS3J6lRxeHaWFbXaE5rUymr4EVdQzZf5RyzzS1i1bOLQ695bmahpnPOM/s400/Arkham+Sanitorium+Patch+Rev+3.jpg)
The fourth try. It's not working for me, and I think the motto is just a distraction.
This is the part of designing things that I have a love/hate relationship with. I've come up with a few elements that work (the proportions between the shield shape and the lettering, the snake and psi design), but I've also gone through a ton of things that look terrible. That's one of the reasons I haven't posted any of the variations using wreaths or the multiple lamp designs I experimented with.
The one great thing about doing the work on a computer is that it's so easy to add and remove elements and move things around. Personally, I'm a firm believer in Sturgeon's Law- 90% of everything is crap. A computer isn't going to make you better at anything, but it's a miracle machine at letting you work through the 90% so you can get to the 10% that's worthwhile faster.