Every occasion is unique, and the right award captures its own spirit. Whether it is a corporate milestone, a championship title, the student's first academic award, or the trophy or plaque you present, it is represented as more than a token. Understandably, then, this award became a lasting representation of the event, carrying forth the pride, motivation, and memory of what was accomplished.
When choosing an award, think about more than just something that will look good on stage. It is important to understand the event, the recipients, and the message you wish to convey. Design, materials, and style should come together cohesively to honour the occasion thoughtfully and sincerely.
We have made custom trophies and plaques for hundreds of different events at R D Custom Awards. From high-energy sports tournaments to formal corporate galas, we have learned that the most meaningful awards are the awards that have been thoughtfully selected. Hopefully, this guide will help you do that!
Understanding the Purpose Behind the Award
Before you get into planning designs or materials, consider what the recognition really means. Each recognition moment has purpose — each time we recognise one another, there is the intent to recognise hard work, drive future performance, celebrate a milestone, or create some kind of legacy.
Here are a few questions worth asking:
Who are the recipients? Are they employees, students, athletes, or community leaders? The recipients' background and relationship to the event should inform and influence your decision.
What message should the award communicate? Is it about excellence, perseverance, teamwork, or loyalty? The design should mirror that theme.
What is the tone of this event? Is the tone formal - if it is, the award should feel elegant - is it casual and fun - if yes, the award should feel fun - is it traditional - then the award should feel cultural!
Is the award designed to be displayed long-term? Several awards can become "office décor" or shelf keepsakes, and some are purely symbolic of the moment itself.
When the award's design, material, and tone are all in line with its purpose, the award does not just look appropriate; it feels appropriate.
Corporate Awards: Professional & Prestigious
Corporate awards serve to reinforce professionalism and prestige while recognising vocational achievements - ranging from sales awards to executive leadership awards to years of dedicated service - the award itself should reflect the authenticity and worthiness of the achievement.
Best suited for: Yearly achievement programs, sales awards, awards for leadership recognition, and milestone achievement events.
Recommended styles:
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Sophisticated crystal or glass trophies that illuminate beautifully
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Practical metal awards featuring clean, minimal lines
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Plaques designed for a boardroom or office greeting and an admirable display
Design tip: When styling awards, think elegant, high-end, and lightly branded with your organisational colours. Do not go for anything "over-the-top" flashy; subtle simplicity often makes more of a corporate statement.
Sports Awards: Energetic & Symbolic
Sports awards should communicate the excitement of competition, the joy of victory - they should give off an aura of energy and boldness and celebration - infusing the spirit of the game and the love for the sport.
Ideal for: Tournaments, leagues, player recognitions, and team championships.
Recommended styles:
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Moving shapes that indicate action — flames, swirls, waves, or upward arcs
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Bold materials like resin, acrylic, or metal with the ability to hold detailed designs.
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Bright colours, particularly for youth tournaments.
Design tip: Let the award's design tell the story of the sport. A trophy for cricket follows a bat silhouette, and a soccer award may have an action pose of the player.
Our “Batsman of the Tournament Trophy” has a sleek cricket bat design that players display in their homes with pride. The “Indoor Sports Awards” series has customizable sports icons that make each award feel unique and specific to the athlete's achievement and sport. Years later, as those athletes reflect back on a trophy, they instantly think back to that moment of winning.
Academic & School Awards: Motivational & Meaningful
School awards have a special significance in the life of a young person; generally speaking, they are one of the first recognitions students receive that can ultimately develop their confidence and ambitions for a long period of time. These school awards ought to be seen as heartfelt, optimistic, meaningful significance of achievement, but not intimidating or too formal.
Ideal for: Annual day ceremonies, academic excellence, debate competitions, and cultural events.
Recommended styles:
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Use lightweight, but durable material like wood, acrylic or resin
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Use symbolic designs - e.g. books, stars, laurel leaves, or achievement ribbons
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Incorporate engraved school emblems or mottos to reference institutional pride
Design tip: Make them colourful and approachable for younger students, more sophisticated for senior achievers.
Cultural & Community Awards: Artistic & Story-Driven
Cultural and community events are all about connection - to place, to custom and shared identity. It would be inappropriate for the awards given at those events not to represent that connection. Awards should promote the connection through consideration of the traditional values and practices of the community.
Ideal for: Regional festivals, social organisation honours, dance and music competitions, and community service recognition.
Recommended styles:
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Utilise local arts, traditions, or cultural symbolism.
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Utilise local and authentic materials - woods, brass, natural, and handmade.
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Utilise design as your primary way of communicating and storytelling - not just rely on the engraving.
As an illustration, our "Cochin Theme Trophy" is patterned with motifs of backwaters and palm trees, which immediately creates the feel of the location. The "Goa Theme Trophy" captures the beach energy that is inherent to the area. When awards capture local culture and pride, cultural events feel emotionally connected, because it is represent the community as a whole and not simply the performer.
Employee Appreciation & Milestone Awards: Personal & Timeless
Recognising work anniversaries, retirements, or individual contributions is a different approach. These awards signify personal milestones and professional development. They need to feel warm, personalised and durable for long-term use, as they are usually treasured awards displayed at home or in the office.
Ideal for: Work anniversaries, retirement honours, employee of the month, special contributions.
Recommended styles:
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Engraving a customised name, years of service and a special message
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Plaques in acrylic or wood with a modern design aesthetic and metallic accents
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Materials that age well, staying beautiful over the years
Our “10 Years Service Award” combines acrylic with the sophistication of glass to produce an award that feels modern yet timeless. Personalisation is what makes an acknowledgement last longer than a moment in time - it becomes ingrained in someone's professional journey, a physical reminder of the difference they made and the value they brought to their team.
Event Theme Alignment: Matching the Award with the Occasion
One of the things that is most often overlooked in award selection is theme consistency. Whether it's a trophy or a plaque, the award you present should feel like it is an extension of the event itself.
Is it a corporate gala? Go with an award that has a more formal metallic finish. An award that will look great on screen under the glare of a professional photographer's flash.
Is it an elementary school annual day? Then go with something colourful and youthful that feels celebratory and age-appropriate for the children receiving it.
Is it a sports meet? Go with something energetic and bold, the same energetic feeling the participants feel during the intensity of the competition.
Is it a cultural event? Go with something reflective of the traditional or regional aspects of the activity that shows a recognition of the roots of the celebration.
At RD Custom Awards, we collaborate and brainstorm with clients on awards that will become their awards, but also reflect the branding of their event and the presentation on the stage. When there is a connection between the award and event, the moment of recognition becomes fluid and intentional in nature.
Materials & Finishes - The Unsung Heroes of Design
The material selection does more than just provide durability; it creates the tone around the award as a whole, and various materials evoke various feelings:
Crystal and Glass: Expensive, modern, and elegant. Great for a corporate environment and when sophistication is needed. They catch light beautifully and are great for photos as they capture light.
Metal: Bold, strong, and authoritative. Great for sports awards or leadership awards where power and success are wanted.
Wood: Warm, traditional, and sustainable. Great for academia, milestone awards, or other events where you want to create a timeless, grounded feel.
Acrylic: Versatile, colourful, and light. Great for the creative event, youth award, or if lots of colour customisations are available.
The design team often play with a variety of materials; e.g. combining wood and glass to create a feeling of balance between modern looks and classic feels. Combining materials can help us to create memorable awards that feel special and are designed thoughtfully, rather than feeling generic or mass-produced.
Customisation: The Personal Touch That Elevates Recognition
A custom award is something special that becomes memorable the moment you recognise someone for their specific achievement. It is about more than putting a name and date on something; it is about creating a design that tells a story.
At RD Custom Awards, our custom design process includes:
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Sketching out concepts based on your event theme and idea
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3D designing to provide you with a small glimpse of what the final product may look like before production.
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Engraving info and UV printing to create your permanent customisation.
When you think of trophies, think of them as a way to tell a story. The shape may represent the industry or activity. The material may be reflective of your organisation's values. The engraving may specifically commemorate the occasion being celebrated. When all of this, in its entirety, with intention comes together to create an award, the recipient feels proud to receive and display that award in their home or office space.
Recognition Designed with Purpose
Selecting the right recognition award is more than just looks or cost; it's about recognising the moment in a way that enhances motivation, pride, and memory. When you take time considering the award, the recipient feels it…and knows it’s an important enough achievement for you to select the award with meaning to them.
At RD Custom Awards, we think every recognition moment deserves a design that reflects its significance. Whether you require corporate trophies or plaque-like ideals based on culture, we help you tell your story, one award at a time. For bigger events or a simple appreciation moment, we will provide awards for you to tell a story that will last.
