Are you organising an event and looking for inspiration to design your medals?
While medals are a great way to celebrate achievement, choosing the right visual elements is essential to turn your event into something truly unforgettable.
Luckily, you've come to the right place! At MedalStudio, we’ve spent years creating custom medals and awards that help commemorate all kinds of occasions. That’s why, in this article, we’ll share 5 creative medal ideas for the following types of events:
- Running or cycling event
- Fitness competition
- Team building
- Sustainable events
- Charity event
Ready to get started? Let’s go!
#1 Running or Cycling Event
Running and cycling event medals are by far the most requested, which has given us the opportunity to work with a wide range of styles and visual elements.
That said, our favourite designs are those that symbolise the location of the race. For example, if the race takes place in a city like London, you might feature the skyline or one of its most iconic landmarks, such as Big Ben.
It’s also essential to include the distance run on the medal. You can add the event logo and, if possible, the participant’s name. Personalisation creates a strong emotional connection and helps make each runner feel that their effort has truly been recognised.
Don’t forget, you can play with colour. So if you’re organising a colour run or a children’s race, we recommend using bright colours like yellow or green. And remember, the ribbon is part of the medal too, so choose colours that match the overall theme of your event.
At MedalStudio we offer a free design service includes us putting together a visual representation based on the information and logos or images you provide us with.
Looking for more inspiration? This quick guide is full of fresh medal design ideas for your next running event.
#2 Fitness Competition
If you’re organising a fitness competition, we recommend going for medals with unconventional shapes.
For example, for a squathon event, we designed a medal with a non-traditional shape that stood out far more than a standard circular medal. We also included the image of a person performing a deep squat to visually express the physical and emotional effort required to take part in this competition.
When designing your medals, don’t forget to include key details such as the name of the event, the category, or the main exercise. If a gym is sponsoring the competition, you could also add their logo to the medal or the ribbon to strengthen the event’s branding.
For these types of competitions, we also like to incorporate storytelling elements. A motivational quote engraved on the front or back of the medal can make a big impact. The more personalised the medal, the more meaningful it becomes, it's one of the best ways to honour the preparation and effort of each participant.
#3 Team Building
Team-building activities at work don’t just help reduce stress and strengthen collaboration, they also boost motivation. That’s why, if you’re organising a corporate event of this kind, we recommend giving personalised medals to your team as a meaningful form of recognition.
You can personalise the medals to reflect the milestones reached. For example, add inscriptions such as “Top Salesperson” or “Employee of the Month”. We recommend choosing inspiring messages that highlight the impact of their contributions.
Consider using non-traditional shapes, such as octagons, to make your medals stand out visually.
We suggest choosing materials that reflect the tone of your event. Metal is perfect for formal occasions and high-level awards, while acrylic communicates creativity and modernity.
Also, make sure the design reflects your company’s culture. For example, if you work in a tech-focused organisation, consider using blue tones and sleek, innovative visual elements.
Lastly, don’t underestimate how the medals are presented. Take a moment to deliver a heartfelt message that acknowledges your team’s dedication and effort. This small gesture can make a lasting impact.
#4 Sustainable Events
When hosting an eco-friendly event, it’s essential that every detail reflects your message and commitment to the environment. That’s why we recommend using sustainable materials for your medals.
At MedalStudio, we offer medals made from European-sourced natural birch ply that is FSC and PEFC certified. This eco-friendly, renewable material stores carbon throughout its life cycle, helping to reduce the overall environmental impact of your event.
The wood is sourced from ethically managed forests, where more trees are planted each year than are harvested. What’s more, the excess material generated during our UK-based manufacturing process is used to power a biomass burner on a local farm, meaning that we have ZERO waste from the process.
Beyond the material, the design is equally important. Consider using green tones and non-traditional shapes that align with your event’s theme, such as a tree or a leaf.
And remember: with eco-conscious events, less is more. A simple, thoughtful design is often more consistent with a sustainable message than something overly complex.
#5 Charity Event
When our clients organise charity events, we always recommend designing participant medals with the cause at the heart of the concept.
For instance, if the event focuses on mental health, consider using symbols that reflect the theme, along with uplifting phrases like the one we’ve included below. A short, thoughtful message can significantly enhance the emotional impact of the medal.
It’s also important to choose colours that align with the cause. For example, in events that support breast cancer awareness, we typically use shades of pink and complementary hues within that palette. Warm finishes and materials, such as pastels, soft earth tones or lavender, can help convey a sense of care, compassion and emotional connection.
Craft Memorable Medals
Remember, the right medal design can help create an emotional connection with participants. Choosing thoughtful shapes, high-quality materials, and personal details, you can create medals that don't just reward effort, but also reflect the story behind your event.
If you have any questions regarding our custom medals, awards, or snoodz, please do not hesitate to email us at [email protected] or call us at 01377 250449.
Updated: 11/06/2025