How Custom Medals Can Tell A Story

Have you ever wondered how a medal can tell a story?

By incorporating different visual elements into its design, a medal can reflect the purpose of the event and honour the efforts of its participants.

At MedalStudio, we have years of experience crafting bespoke medals for all kinds of events. Our aim is to strengthen connections and add emotional significance to every occasion.

That’s why, in this article, we’ll share five tips to help your medals tell a meaningful story:

1. Consider the purpose of the event
2. Incorporate relevant symbols
3. Think about the meaning behind colours
4. Choose a distinctive shape
5. Include a meaningful engraving

Ready? Let's dive in!

#1 Consider the Purpose of the Event

When our clients want to personalise their medals but don’t know where to start, we always recommend beginning with the purpose of the event. This serves as the foundation for defining the visual elements of the design.

To easily identify the purpose, think about who the event is for and the main message you want to communicate.

For example, if you’re organising a charity run in support of breast cancer awareness, the visual elements of your medal should revolve around themes of awareness and solidarity. You should choose imagery and colours that align with that purpose (in the following sections, we’ll help you break down each of these elements).

Remember that defining the purpose of the event should always be the first step in designing your medal. Without a clear intention, the design may feel empty and fail to create an emotional connection with participants.

#2 Incorporate Relevant Symbols

Once you’ve defined the purpose of your event, it becomes much easier to incorporate relevant symbols that reflect it.

For example, if you’re organising a run to raise awareness about environmental conservation, consider adding visual elements that clearly convey that message.

In a recent project, we chose a panda bear as a symbol, as it’s a global icon of environmental preservation and is often associated with organisations like WWF. We also used wood to produce the medal, reinforcing the ecological message and creating consistency between the material and the concept.

We recommend selecting symbols that your audience will easily recognise. If you’re holding a race in a major city like London, for instance, you could include the skyline featuring landmarks such as Big Ben. This way, when participants see their medal, they’ll immediately be reminded of the event.

Avoid using generic icons like stars or crowns unless there’s a specific reason for them. Instead, explore cultural or natural elements that can enrich the design and give it greater meaning.

Also, don't forget that it's also important to use the right materials. There are different options you can choose from, such as metal, wood, or acrylic. Each material is highly customisable and has unique advantages.

#3 Consider the Meaning Behind Colours

Did you know that the colours of your medal can help tell a story?

According to colorpsychology.org,colours can trigger emotions, inspire reactions, and even influence human behaviour. That’s why understanding the meaning behind each colour is essential for creating a truly memorable medal.

Here are the meanings of five commonly used colours:

• Red: This primary colour is associated with strength, power, love, and passion. It easily draws attention, which is why it’s also often used to symbolise danger. We recommend using red for high-energy sports events like boxing or romantic celebrations.
• Green: Commonly linked to nature, growth, harmony, and freshness. It also conveys a sense of calm. This makes it perfect for eco-friendly and sustainable events.
• Blue: Represents serenity, reflection, peace, and technology. It’s ideal for academic, scientific, or corporate events.
• Yellow: This bright, energetic colour is associated with joy, happiness, intellect, and creativity. Because it stands out, it’s perfect for children’s events, creative gatherings, or artistic occasions.
• Pink: Symbolises tenderness, vulnerability, innocence, and hope. Often used to represent femininity, it’s a strong choice for inclusive events, self-care themes, or women’s health causes.

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 medal.

And don’t forget that it’s not just the colours in the visual design that matter. The ribbon colour also plays a vital role in making the experience even more memorable.

#4 Choose a Distinctive Shape

Using an unconventional shape for your medal can also help tell a story, as it instantly reflects the theme of the event.

When the shape of the medal is aligned with the visual elements we mentioned earlier, it creates a consistent and engaging narrative. This makes the medal more memorable and helps forge a stronger emotional connection with participants.

At MedalStudio, we love experimenting with creative shapes, as it allows us to tell stories in original ways, without relying solely on the client’s logo.

Remember, we offer medals in all kinds of custom shapes. Each medal is uniquely designed to match the silhouette you envision, with layered construction that creates a stunning 3D effect that truly stands out. Be sure to check out our product specifications for full details on sizes and colour options.

#5 Include a Meaningful Engraving

Last but not least, we recommend engraving a message that helps convey the core purpose of your event.

To make your medal tell a story, consider including the name of the event and its date or year. You might also want to add a motivational phrase or even the event location, if relevant.

Whenever possible, consider adding each participant’s name. This transforms the medal from a generic keepsake into a meaningful, intentional recognition. Personal touches like this help build emotional connections and increase the likelihood of participants returning for future events.

Don’t forget that you can also use the ribbon to include text. This helps keep the medal design clean while giving you space to add a logo or small graphic that makes the medal even more eye-catching.

Designing Medals That Tell a Story

In conclusion, considering the purpose of the event, choosing relevant symbols, using colours with intention, selecting a custom shape, and including a meaningful engraving can help you create a medal that tells a story and truly resonates with participants.

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: 28/05/2025