Continuing the official Brooklyn pin tradition made famous by former beep Marty Markowitz, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Brooklyn Art Ambassador Colm Dillane are bringing back the Brooklyn Pin Design competition for 2027. 

Markowitz started the tradition during his 12-year tenure in the early 2000s, when he handed out thousands of gold “Brooklyn” pins in the font worn by the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team. In 2025, Reynoso revived the tradition and charged Dillane, the inaugural Brooklyn Arts Ambassador, with redesigning a limited-edition run of the borough’s official pin.

The Brooklyn Pin design competition gives Brooklynites a chance to put their own stamp on a tradition that has represented Brooklyn pride for decades, Reynoso said. 

In 2025, Brooklyn Arts Ambassador Colm Dillane redesigned a limited-edition run of the official Brooklyn pin. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

“Last year, we saw that tradition take on new life through the creativity of a young high school student, and I can’t wait to see what Brooklyn comes up with next,” he said. “Whether you’re a student, an artist, or someone with a great idea and a whole lot of Brooklyn pride, we want to see your vision for the 2027 Brooklyn Pin.”

In 2026, South Brooklynite Mellina Melezhik drew inspiration from the New York City subway system, and her design paid homage to Brooklyn with the borough’s name rendered in a graffiti-inspired typeface.

“This design is something that I came up with to challenge myself creatively. I wanted to represent the R160 train, with the graffiti paying homage to the communities and culture that make Brooklyn what it is. Seeing that idea become the official pin has been really special, and I hope it inspires other young artists to put their ideas out there,” Melezhik said.

Dillane said he is looking forward to collaborating with the Brooklyn Beep on the competition. 

Brooklyn Arts Ambassador Colm Dillane (left) and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. File photo by Gabriele Holtermann

“Brooklyn has so many incredible artists, and I’m excited to continue working with Borough President Reynoso to find the next artist to put their spin on a tradition that grows every year,” Dillane said. “The coolest part is that the pin becomes a sort of time capsule of Brooklyn — a reflection of who we are, how we’re feeling, and what inspires us.”

Brooklyn residents of all ages and non-resident students attending a K-12 school in Brooklyn are invited to let their creativity shine and submit their original designs by December 6, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. – minors need consent from a parent or guardian.

The winning design will be selected by the Brooklyn Beep and Dillane and announced and first distributed at the 2027 State of the Borough Address.

Design Criteria:

Submissions must be original work. The use of artificial intelligence is not allowed.
The winning design should be creative, original, and a reflection of Brooklyn.
To qualify, designs must feature legible text naming Brooklyn.
Nicknames and stylized text are acceptable. For example, Brooklyn, BK, BKLYN are permissible options. So are BROOKLYN, bk, Brooooooklyn, etc.
Artists should keep in mind that pins will be produced between .33 and .38 mm wide max (1.29 and 1.49 inches).
Designs should be appropriate and free of offensive language or imagery.
Only submit pdf, doc, docx, jpg, jpeg, png, eps, svg, or Adobe Illustrator files

For more information and to apply, visit https://www.brooklynbp.nyc.gov/2027-pin-design-competition/