Are you planning an office event and looking for inspiration to create your awards?
Choosing the right design, materials, and shapes for your workplace awards can feel overwhelming, especially with so many options out there.
But don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place! At MedalStudio, we have years of experience crafting custom medals and awards that celebrate important achievements and help create truly memorable moments.
In this article, we’ll share 5 ideas to inspire your next corporate event:
- Classic awards
- Creative shapes
- Eco-friendly options
- Hybrid designs
- Orbit awards
Let's get started!
#1 Classic Awards
If you’re planning a formal event, such as a corporate anniversary or an executive achievement ceremony, we recommend choosing classic awards, as they offer timeless elegance.
One of the things we love most about classic awards is how easy they are to personalise. You can add the recipient’s name, the company name, a commemorative message, and even the date. Depending on the material you choose, these awards can convey a sense of professionalism and are perfect for display in offices or other corporate spaces.
At MedalStudio, we like using acrylic for this classis awards. It’s a lightweight, stylish material that’s ideal for engraving detailed inscriptions. Also, its sleek appearance gives a sense of prestige and refinement.
Another advantage of acrylic is the flexibility it offers in terms of shape. Whether you want a rectangular, square, circular, or custom-shaped design, it’s all possible.
If you choose to craft a classic award, don’t forget about colours, as they can trigger emotions, inspire reactions, and even influence human behaviour. Blue represents serenity, reflection, peace, and technology, making it ideal for academic, scientific, or corporate events. Pink, on the other hand, is a strong choice for inclusive events, and self-care themes.
If you’d like to learn more about colour symbolism, we recommend exploring guides like Adobe’s. These resources can help you choose the right colour palette for your award.
#2 Creative Shapes
If the event you're organising has a more relaxed tone and you're looking for something original and innovative, we recommend choosing an award with an unconventional shape.
If you’re considering a creative shape award, here are a few tips to help you choose the right design:
- Think about the purpose of the event: If you're recognising innovation or celebrating a successful launch, consider using symbols that represent this, like a rocket.
- Consider your brand identity: When selecting a creative shape, make sure it aligns with your brand colours and tone. A tech-focused company might lean towards geometric shapes, while a creative or artistic brand could opt for playful silhouettes.
- Plan the elements to include: Unusual shapes can limit the space available for text, logos, or images. That’s why it’s important to define the key elements you want to feature before settling on a final shape.
We love these types of awards because they often surprise and delight the recipients. In fact, many winners choose to display them in a special place in their office, which speaks to their emotional and symbolic value.
#3 Eco-Friendly Options
It’s increasingly common for companies to seek sustainable ways to recognise and reward their employees.
If that’s your goal, we highly recommend choosing wood as the main material for your awards. This option is especially popular among organisations committed to environmental responsibility.
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. Also, the excess material generated during our UK-based manufacturing process is used to power a biomass burner on a local farm, meaning our production process creates ZERO waste.
No matter which material you choose, it's always important to personalise the award—whether by adding your company logo, a short message, or a meaningful image—to make it even more memorable for the recipient.
#4 Hybrid Design
If you're looking for the warmth of materials like wood combined with the sleek modernity of acrylic, we recommend our hybrid awards.
These are ideal for all types of events, as they suit a wide range of styles. The contrast between materials is visually striking, making these awards perfect for display in various office spaces.
We especially enjoy creating hybrid awards for events with a strong narrative, as they’re highly customisable. You can engrave meaningful phrases and incorporate full-colour images or logos with ease.
You can also choose from a variety of shapes. For instance, opting for a tower-shaped award can make the design feel even more unique and memorable.
#5 Orbit Awards
Last but certainly not least, let’s talk about Orbit Awards. They are perfect for events that aim to combine elegance and modernity while maintaining a minimalist aesthetic.
Orbit awards are ideal for internal events that don’t require a high level of formality and allow for a more creative touch.
At MedalStudio, we often recommend Orbit Awards because they are easy to display, simple to personalise, and always make a stylish impression.
Remember, customising your awards is very straightforward. Simply send us your preferences and any logos or information you would like to appear.
Our free design service includes a visual representation based on the images you provide, but it does not include the creation of a logo for you. However, if you require this service, we can offer it for an additional cost.
Crafting Meaningful Awards
When planing an office event, it's important to consider its purpose and theme. Also, don't forget that whether you choose classic, creative, eco-friendly, hybrid, or orbit awards, personalisation adds a special touch.
If you have any questions regarding our custom medals, awards, or snoods please do not hesitate to email us at [email protected] or call us at 01377250449.
Updated: 25/06/2025