In the last blog post I’ve covered what the best time is to consider a personalized trophy or award. In this one today, I’ll be sharing my thoughts about custom trophy designs and how these can help your brand. What different types of trophies exist and I’ll be sharing a few custom trophy ideas. I hope it’ll serve as good food for thought whenever you might need a custom trophy. Should you have any comment or feedback, best drop me a message on LinkedIN.
When I was a kid I did a lot of sports. Mostly football, basketball, swimming and table tennis. Whenever any of my friends and I participated in a competition, the medals and trophies were a big deal to us. The vast majority of events had very similar type of trophies. Back then I did not know why. After a while it was boring.
The rare events that had unique trophies were special. Amongst adults, I don’t believe it is much different. Yes, I now understand that not everyone who is handing out trophies will put in the same amount of effort into developing nice ones. I now understand the role the budget plays in making these type of decisions.
By using custom trophies the organizers are sending a strong message of quality and attention to detail. With custom trophies it is much easier to align the trophy with the brand. Whilst one can personalize standard trophies, e.g. with a printed logo, the date and the name of the event, custom trophies offer more options. You can pick a particular material and the entire design can be adapted to what makes most sense for your brand. If e.g. one of the brand values is creativity custom trophies allow you to go all in. This way the value is communicated both internally and externally.
Some clients use the term instagramability. It refers to the likelihood of a product, be it a parader in a night club or a trophy, to be shared on social media. With a custom trophy that is well designed the instagramability score will be higher. This results in brand exposure to a wider audience.
Custom trophies are better for the participants, too. Whoever is involved in the organization of the award ceremony, they’ll feel better about a custom trophy than a standard one. Those who are competing for it, will feel more motivated if the trophy is a well designed custom one. Nobody likes to have a cheap looking, boring trophy on one’s shelf.
There exist all kinds of trophies. From many different materials. In many different designs.
The most common type of trophy is the cup trophy. These stem from ancient times when chalices and cups were considered valuables and were common award items. Most often they are made from metal, in silver or gold color.
Unlike cup trophies plaques don’t have a true 3D shape. They are almost flat metal pieces. To such a product, akin to many keyholders or pin badges, we here in PES say the product has a 2,5D design. On the backside plaques are flat and on the top side they have a relief. Debossed and/or embossed areas. They often come in a cardboard or wooden box. Sometimes even with a small printed card inside that carries a message relevant to the event and receiver.
Trophies and awards sometimes take the form of objects that are to be hung onto a wall. Most often these are made from printed metal, plastic or wood.
Medals are very common award items. They are often combined with additional, larger types of trophies, like a cup trophy. Most often round in shape and made from metal, medals are attached to ribbons, so that one can carry them around the neck. A subcategory are medals of honor, which are commonly used in organisations such as the military.
Trophies can be mostly made from a figurine that is often attached to a base element made from a different type of material, e.g. a metal figurine and a wooden base.
A very common type of trophy. A 3D piece made from acrylic glass, often in a geometric form, with something inside that looks like a 3D object. It is etched into the acrylic glass.
A lot of trophies are made from glass or acrylic glass. They can be personalized via engraving or print.
A relevant object, linked to the brand world, that is replicated. This is another very common category of trophies and awards.
Think about the more artsy shapes here. A sculpture but not a figurine. No cup either. No medal or plaque.
1. Out of office
In collaboration with BBDO, the Croatian National Tourism Board managed a brand awareness campaign named “Out of Office”. The most creative “Out of Office” messages got an award. The product has been designed by BBDO and is a beautiful example of a budget type of award that still looks unique. The product is made from several pieces of light blue acrylic glass material connected to each other.
2. Heineken
For more than 15 years now, we’ve been crafting custom Point of Sale material and branded merchandise for Heineken. One of their internal events was an award ceremony for the best sales representatives. As the top award we made a trophy that consisted out of a Heineken glass replica made from metal and a large base.
3. MaiStar
Maistra is the name of a hotel group. As their guest you can become a member of the MaiStar Rewards Club and enjoy exclusive benefits. It is a loyalty programme for which their agency partner, Bruketa&Žinić&Grey, developed the below award.
4. ICT Gold
The ICT Gold Award is a Croatian national award for the best ICT implementation. It is made from polished brass with an engraved ICT logo.
5. Croatian exporters
The National Croatian Exporters organisation hosts an annual award ceremony for the companies that achieved the best export results. The product is made from solid metal, attached to a solid wood base.
6. Rotary Gear
Conceptualised and designed by Ana Banić Göttlicher, this product represents the annual award of the Croatian Chamber of Mechanical Engineers. It consists of four fragmented gear segments, each of which has six teeth. Since there are four different levels of recognition, there are varied materials used for this custom award.
7. ATP Croatia Umag
After more than 30 years of organizing the ATP Croatia Open Umag tennis tournament, the company that stands behind this event, Plava Laguna, decided it was time for a redesign of their trophy. Actually not to redesign but reinterpret the existing trophy.
The goal was to find a more modern look and to replace crystal with metal. Our client’s design partner, Andrija Previšić, came up with a new concept. Our role was to help develop and make it. The products have been crafted in our workshop located in Zagreb, Croatia.
Custom trophies are a common sight in many different industries. They are tools for recognising extraordinary achievements in a way that reflects the unique culture of the particular industry. Below I’ll describe a few famous awards, categorised by industry, plus present fresh trophy concepts for the majority of these industries.
Education and Academia
Not a trophy in the traditional sense, the Nobel Medal is the most prestigious award in more than just one field. The medal carries a relief of Alfred Nobel’s profile. More than anything the design of this award communicates tradition.
The Pulitzer Prize Medal, is awarded in 24 categories, relating to journalism, literature, and musical composition. The medal has a relief on both sides and is presented in an elegant cherry-wood box with brass hardware.
Culinary
The most well know award in the culinary industry is the Michelin star. The award comes in the form of a square shaped, thin wall item. The product is made from metal and printed.
Other notable trophies and awards are the James Beard Award in the US and the Bocuse d’Or Trophy in France, which is often called the culinary Olympics. Each winner of the first receives a medal with a relief of the founder’s profile. Each winner of the second receives a trophy with a 3D figurine. The figurine represents a male chef, Bocuse himself, and is made from metal. With either a copper, silver or gold color finish.
Advertising and Media
The Cannes Lions Trophy symbolises achievements in advertising and media. The design featues a metal 3D lion, mounted on a black rectangular base.
The Clio Awards is the most prestigious advertising festival in the USA, founded in 1959. It is often referred to as the Oscars of the advertising industry. The trophy looks quite similar. It comes in four different versions: Grand, gold, silver and bronze.
Architecture and Design Industry
The Pritzker Architecture Prize is a bronze medallion that carries a relief on both sides. It symbolises the cultural value of architectural work.
The AIA Gold Medal is awarded by the American Institute of Architects. The award is a gold medal with classical design elements.
The Red Dot Design Award is a printed A4 sheet of paper in a silver frame. The competition dates back to 1954 and is taking place in Essen, Germany.
Corporate and Business Industry
The Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Award is based on a technology inspired design, featuring digital numbers or geometric shapes. The main goal is to communicate innovation and rapid growth.
Founded in 1986, the E&Y Entrepeneur Of The Year Award has expanded to close to 60 countries. It honors business leaders for their achievements and entrepreneurial spirit. In most countries the award is made from metal and acrylic glass. Attached to a black base which is either made from wood or MDF.
Music
The Grammy Award, in the shape of a golden gramophone, mounted onto a black base, is a classic symbol of musical achievement. Awarded across various genres, its vintage design represents the timelessness of music.
In terms of its design, the Brit Award, is special. Because each year a different well-known artist is in charge of its design. This way it reflects the contemporary nature of the music industry.
Fashion
The CFDA Fashion Award is awarded by The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). It is a modern trophy in the shape of a human figure, made from silver finished metal.
The Fashion Awards are a UK related ceremony. The trophies are designed by famous artists or designers, representing the creativity inherent in the fashion industry.
Automotive
The Motor Trend Car of the Year Award often features an aerodynamic design, symbolising the movement inherent in this industry. The shape is often a stylized car, wheel or another car part. The award represents innovation and achievement in automotive design and engineering. This award, having debuted in 1949, was the first publication to name a Car of the Year.
The Movin’On Challenge Design, formerly known as the Michelin Design Challenge, is a sustainable mobility design competition. Each year the organizers announce a new theme. Like the Motor Trend Car of the Year Award, the Movin’On Challenge Design trophy often incorporates an automotive part.
Sports
The FIFA World Cup Trophy is made of 18 carat gold. This award trophy features two humans lifting up our planet. It is 36,8cm high and weighs a bit more than 6kg. This trophy represents the global unity and competitive spirit of soccer.
Each year the Vince Lombardi Trophy is awarded to the National Football League’s champion. The team that wins the Super Bowl. The trophy is made of sterling silver and shows a football in a kicking position, on a tall stand.
Entertainment
The Academy Award, also know as The Oscar, is probably the most recognized trophy in the world. The iconic golden statue depicts a knight holding a sword. It symbolizes achievement in film and is present annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
The MTV Video Music Award, also called The Moonman, features an astronaut holding an MTV flag. The Moonman trophy is a playful, innovative design which represents MTV’s creative and youthful brand positioning.
In conclusion, all of the above examples show how custom trophies are not just awards. They are powerful material representations of the immaterial domain. Because they convey values, achievements, and prestige of individuals, organizations and entire industries. Through its creative design, quality materials, and symbolic representation, these trophies elevate the brands behind them and foster relationships with employees, customers, and other business partners.
Ivica Baraba
"In PES I get to work on many custom Point of Sales material projects. I’ve been doing this since 2004. It intrigues me to delve into brand worlds and determine what products can help a client achieve their business goals. It is an exceptionally creative and dynamic industry to be a part of.”