Create a Document

Written By Vik

Last updated 21 days ago

Before a credential is ever issued, it begins its life as a Document; a powerful, customizable template that defines the structure, appearance, and data of your future credentials. Whether you're planning to issue certificates, digital badges, or participation acknowledgments, it all starts here.

With Wauld, documents are part of a larger Engagement, which helps you organize credentials based on real-world activities like courses, events, or training programs.

What is a Document?

A Document in Wauld represents any credential; a certificate, badge, diploma, etc.; that hasn’t yet been issued. It defines how the final credential will look and behave.

Once a document is issued to a recipient, it becomes a Credential.

Think of it like this:

  • Engagement = The event, course, or training (e.g., “AI Bootcamp - Summer 2025”)

  • Document = Templates for that event (e.g., “Certificate of Completion”, “Top Performer Badge”)

  • Credential = Issued version of a document, personalized for a recipient

Example:
If you're hosting a workshop, you might create three documents under that engagement:

  • Certificate of Participation

  • Completion Badge

  • Excellence Award

Why Use Wauld for Creating Documents?

Wauld makes the process of setting up credentials fast, organized, and brand-forward:

  • Flexible design studio built for credentials

  • Document library with reusable templates

  • Attribute-driven dynamic layouts

  • Secure, QR-verifiable outputs

  • Streamlined design-to-issue flow

Creating a document is the first essential step in the credential lifecycle. Once created, it becomes the canvas for all branding, design, and issuance.

Before You Begin: Make sure you’ve already created an Engagement. Documents can only be created under an existing engagement. Visit Creating an Engagement

How to Create a Document

Follow these steps to create your first document:

  1. Click on “Engagements” from the left-hand navigation bar.

  2. You’ll land on the Engagements List View, showing:

    • Engagement Name

    • Engagement Type

    • Date Created

    • Number of Documents Created

    • Total Credentials Issued

  3. Select the engagement where you want to create the document.

    • This opens the Engagement Details View, which includes:

      • Engagement Name, Type & Description

      • A gallery of existing documents (if any)

      • A Create Document button

        • If you haven’t created any document yet, you’ll see a Create document button right in the center of the page.

        • If you’ve already created one or more documents and now want to create a new one, look at the top right of the screen; you’ll find the Create document button there.

      • A Download Engagement Report button (to learn more, visit Engagement Report )

  4. Click the create document button to begin the process

  5. After clicking “Create Document,” a setup form will appear. This form includes:

    1. Document Name – e.g., “Certificate of Excellence”

    2. Document Type – Choose between:

      1. Document (for certificates, letters, etc.)

      2. Badge (for compact, digital badge-style layouts)

    3. Recipient Type – Select:

      1. Individuals (for most use cases)

      2. Organizations (for issuing credentials to teams or companies)

    4. Choose a Template

      1. You’ll now enter the template selection step:

      2. Pick from ready-to-use templates in Wauld’s professionally designed library.

      3. Or start from scratch with a blank template if you want full creative control.

      4. Templates are filterable by type and layout. Want to know more about templates? Visit: Creating & Editing Credential Templates

Enter the Design Studio

Once you select a template, you’ll be taken to the Design Studio, where the real magic happens.

In the Design Studio, you can:

  • Add and style text, images, logos, signatures

  • Upload your own background or use Wauld’s

  • Add dynamic attributes (like Name, Course, Score)

  • Embed verification QR codes

  • Customize fonts, colors, layout, and much more

To learn everything the Design Studio can do, visit: Introduction to Design and Branding

Saving Your Document

Once you enter design studio:

  • The document is now listed in your Engagement’s Document Gallery

  • You can return anytime to edit, preview, or start issuing credentials from it

  • You’re now ready to move to the Issuing phase

What’s Next?

Once your document is created and designed, you can start issuing it to recipients.