A Guide to Bespoke Trophy Design

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Trophy and award design has a rich history dating all the way back to Ancient Greece, when olive wreaths were given to Olympic victors. Typically associated with the sports and the creative arts industries, they are also frequently used to mark achievements within business, STEM and community services as well as in education.

Designing your own bespoke trophy or award may have to do with official achievements such as these. Alternatively, you may wish to design an unofficial award or trophy to give to a loved one as a gift. In this guide, we’ll  then explore how to design one yourself, taking inspiration from some noteworthy trophy designs throughout history.

Golden trophy with stars and confetti on a yellow background, celebrating achievement and success.
Golden Lone Star Emmy Award trophy with engraved details, symbolizing excellence in television accomplishments.

Approaches to Bespoke Trophy Design

When designing a bespoke trophy, you can either design and make your own, or enlist help from a company specializing in trophies and awards to take on all or part of the work. This will depend on the project scope as well as your own abilities in skills such as metalwork or engraving. It is also important to factor the materials you wish to use into your budget, as these will make a significant impact on cost. These can include:

  • Crystal or glass
  • Semi-precious or precious metals
  • Recycled plastics such as perspex or acrylic
  • A durable, strong wood (such as ash, beech, cherry, oak or walnut

Trophy Design Process

Trophy design typically follows the following four stages:

  1. Initial design: this can range from hand-drawn sketches through to 3D renderings and mockups to establish the overall appearance of the trophy or award
  2. Materials: Next, the materials for the trophy are selected. Metals in nugget form are generally melted down before being rolled into fine sheets to be shaped.
  3. Crafting: The trophy is then crafted by hand using a range of processes depending on the materials used, such as carving, polishing, shaping and chasing.
  4. Fine details: Any additional or more intricate details are then added to the overall shape as a finishing touch. The trophy is then engraved with relevant details such as the winners’ name and date and inspected before being given.
Illustration of hands lifting a trophy with radiant sunburst, symbolizing achievement and success.
Person holding a golden award trophy in an auditorium seat.

Examples of Trophy Design

Besides materials, shape is also a major consideration. While traditional designs such as cups, medals or plaques remain in use today, the evolution of trophy design has led to striking and innovative creations incorporating a wide range of materials and forms. Here are some examples.

The WEF Crystal Award

Crystal glass has been used in trophy and award-making since the mid-20th Century. Intended to represent transparency and resilience, The World Economic Forum Crystal Award is traditionally given to cultural leaders for their contributions to creative, environmental and social progress.

The Oscar Statuette

As Hollywood legend has it, the nickname for the bronze and gold statuette (designed in 1928) by MGM art director Cedric Gibbons and sculptor George Stanley is thought to come from Academy librarian and subsequent executive director Margaret Herrick, who is said to have commented on its resemblance to a family relative.

The Volleyball World Trophy (2022)

Created by Ogilvy Amsterdam and unveiled at the 2022 Beach Pro Tour, Doha, the Volleyball World Trophy was made entirely from recycled plastics. Materials used to create the award were sourced from volleyball beaches, creating an innovative design that also acted as a reminder to keep beaches free from polluting materials.

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