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Bespoke trophies for extraordinary moments

Bespoke Trophies

A guide to trophy design materials

When it comes to crafting custom awards and trophies that celebrate excellence in achievement, the choice of material is as important as the design itself. From the feel of the trophy in the winner's hands to the way it catches the light when left on display, the material used has the power to shape both its aesthetic and symbolic impact.

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Adam Hutchinson

November 28, 2024

Categories

Design
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The team at Gaudio Awards live and breathe bespoke trophy design, and we have access to an extensive range of materials to help bring your trophy vision to life. Whether you’re seeking a show stopping trophy design that is classic, modern, sustainable, or sleek, we’ve got you covered.

Mesmerising metal trophies

Metal is often the go-to material for trophy design due to its durability, weight, and timeless appeal. There is something so classically charming about a metal trophy, with its polished shine, cool surface, and solid feel all adding to the feeling of prestige. Our metal trophy designs can be made with a variety of finishes, such as a mirror polish, satin brush, or even vibrant anodised colours, allowing for a truly custom trophy look.

Metal trophy design tips:

  • Consider a brushed metal finish for a more subtle, understated trophy look – just like we created for the British Travel Awards.
  • For high-impact events, polished plated metal trophies can make a bold statement – take inspiration from the gold and silver trophies we’ve created for Masterchef UK over the years.
  • Add intricate engravings to give your metal trophy a personalised feel – for example, the custom personalisation details within these Coca Cola Europacific Cups truly highlights the individuality of each achievement.
Metal trophy design for the British Travel Awards

Wooden trophies that triumph

Wooden trophies bring a natural look and feel to any awards ceremony. They are perfect for emphasising values such as growth, creativity and sustainability, with each wooden trophy telling its own unique story through the grain patterns and textures. Wooden trophy designs can range from classic, handcrafted pieces to more contemporary creations using sleek lines and minimalistic shapes – the only limit is your imagination!

Wooden trophy design ideas:

  • Classic plaques: A wooden plaque award serves as a simple yet elegant recognition piece – we combined custom engraving with personalisation details to take Geo Partner’s wooden trophy design to another level.
  • Geometric shapes: Contemporary wooden trophy designs often take inspiration from geometric forms – much like this interesting angular trophy we created for the British Woodworking Awards.
  • Nature-inspired design: Wooden trophies carved with nature motifs symbolise connection to the environment – for example, our nature-inspired Leaf Your Office trophies made them a fitting choice for awards focused on sustainability.
wooden plaque for myeloma UK

Awe-inspiring acrylic trophies

Acrylic is one of the most versatile materials when it comes to trophy design. It offers endless possibilities for customisation and branding, allowing you to add colour, depth, and a creative flair to your awards. Acrylic is lightweight, durable and flexible. This means that it can take on virtually any shape, allowing us to craft custom acrylic trophy designs that truly stand out. 

Acrylic trophy design tips:

  • Create depth and interest by layering multiple levels of acrylic. You could even combine frosted and clear pieces for a three-dimensional effect, like we did for the Great Model Railway Challenge awards. 
  • Craft a unique award that pops by utilising acrylic as a canvas for bright print. We used vivid on-brand colours printed directly onto an acrylic tablet to create this dazzling trophy design for The Santander X Awards.
  • If sustainability is at the heart of your awards ceremony, consider using recycled acrylic to craft eco-conscious trophies that don’t compromise on style – much like we did for these TTG Travel Awards tablets.
Acrylic trophy design for the Great Model Railway Challenge

Combining materials for maximum impact

For those looking to make an even bigger statement, consider combining multiple materials. Hybrid materials can give your trophy a more dynamic and interesting look. For example, a wooden base with a sleek metal top, or an acrylic centrepiece framed by a brushed metal outline, can create visual contrast that draws attention to the unique details and craftsmanship of your award.

Some of our most popular material combinations include:

  • Wood and metal: Wooden bases with metal accents allow you to create a modern feel to your trophy, whilst preserving its natural beauty. Our wooden award for Butterfield Bank is a perfect example of this.
  • Acrylic and metal: Using metal combined with acrylic can add depth and dimension to your trophy – we love how the gold aluminium and acrylic elements pair together in our Clout Award trophy design.
  • Multiple finishes: Combining polished, matte, and brushed finishes can create a visually dynamic trophy that catches the light from every angle – just like our trophy for the Murray Walker Award does.
Bespoke trophy design for Butterfield Bank

Call on Gaudio Awards for all your trophy design needs

Selecting the right materials for your trophy design is about much more than just aesthetics. Your choice of material helps to convey the values of your event and create a lasting symbol of achievement. Whether you choose the timeless elegance of metal, the natural charm of wood, or the vibrant versatility of acrylic, Gaudio Awards can help you craft a triumphant trophy and award that captures the true essence of your event.

Are you ready to bring your trophy design vision to life?

Get in touch with Gaudio Awards today to begin designing your show stopping symbol of achievement.

Tel 01242 232 383 Email sales@gaudio.co.uk

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Tel 01242 232 383 Email sales@gaudio.co.uk

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Blank

When you order a blank trophy, it will arrive without any personalised details. The trophy is blank for you to add your own personalisation, or use as a decorative piece.

Personalise Online

Select your layout using the dropdown menu, then enter your details. The live proof shows you an approximate visual of how your trophy will look when it’s engraved. Once you’ve added the details you want and purchased your trophy, we’ll begin manufacture right away.

Please note: The live render is an estimate of how your trophy will look, and the final result may vary in size, colour and placement.

Gaudio Proofing Service

With the Gaudio Proofing Service, simply add your chosen trophy to your cart and checkout as normal. A member of the team will be in touch to collect the required details, and we’ll send you proofs to approve before manufacture. Delivery time excludes proofing.