Are you designing medals for a running event and looking for inspiration?
Thinking through all the elements that make a medal truly unique and memorable can feel overwhelming.
Luckily, at MedalStudio we have years of experience designing all kinds of custom medals and awards—so you’ve come to the right place to create something unforgettable.
In this article, we’ll explore five medal design ideas to spark your creativity:
- City-inspired
- For the little ones
- With a natural aesthetic
- Contrasting materials
- The classic design
Are you ready? Let's get started!
#1 City-Inspired
If you want your running event to be fondly remembered, we recommend incorporating unique symbol, such as the skyline of the city where the race takes place. This can be especially meaningful for runners who travel as part of a sports tourism experience.
For example, if your race is held in Rome, you might feature an illustration of the Colosseum.
These medals don’t need to follow the traditional round shape. In fact, experimenting with shapes and colours can make them even more creative and distinctive.
If your event is held annually, try to keep a consistent theme with small variations. Each year, you could highlight a different symbol from the host city. These don’t have to be buildings, they could also be cultural, historical or natural elements that represent the spirit of the place.
We recommend engraving the name of the city, the distance run, and, if possible, the participant’s name. The more personalised the medal, the more meaningful it becomes, and the more likely it is that runners will sign up again for your future events.
#2 For the Little Ones
If you're organising a running event for the little ones, we recommend going for fun and creative designs. Instead of sticking to a traditional style, consider using popular cartoon characters, friendly animals, and vibrant colours.
For example, for one children’s event, we designed a dinosaur-shaped medal that instantly caught the attention of every participant!
Make sure that medals for kids are lightweight and safe, with no sharp edges. We recommend materials like wood or acrylic, as they’re easy to customise and kid-friendly.
It’s also important to consider the ribbon colour. Bright colours, such as yellow or orange, work really well, as they match the playful tone of the medal and are commonly associated with happiness and energy.
By designing eye-catching medals, you won’t just create unforgettable memories for the little ones, you’ll also help nurture their love for sport and build positive associations with the experience. This increases the chances they’ll want to join your race again next year.
#3 Natural Aesthetic
If you’re organising an eco-friendly running event, we recommend using sustainable materials such as wood, as it will help you better tell the story behind your event.
One of our favourite medals we’ve designed was a wooden one shaped like a tree. It was not only super attractive for participants, but it also communicated its message clearly and effectively.
Keep in mind that our European sourced natural birch ply is FSC and PEFC certified. The raw material used for our eco-friendly wooden medals is an ecological and renewable material that stores carbon throughout its life cycle.
This wood comes from ethically managed forests, where more trees are planted each year than are harvested. The excess material from the UK manufacturing process goes to power a bio-mass burner on a local farm, meaning that we have ZERO waste from the process.
Don't forget to select colours that reflect the purpose of the event. Green, for example, is an excellent choice as it’s strongly associated with nature and sustainability.
#4 Contrasting Materials
If you want to create a truly unique and eye-catching medal, consider combining different materials.
For instance, you could design a medal that features both metal and wood. The contrast between these two materials gives the piece a modern, elegant look.
Offering medals made from high-quality materials, such as our 100% sustainable wood or our premium-finish metal, can greatly enhance the perceived value. In fact, participants may be inspired to display their medal at home.
We recommend this type of design for premium races or special editions, such as a company anniversary run or a commemorative event.
While choosing the right materials for contrast is important, don’t overlook other key elements like personalisation. Remember that engraving the name of the event and the date can make a significant difference and help create a lasting impression.
#5 Classic Design
While medals with custom shapes are certainly popular among our clients, classic gold, silver, and bronze medals remain a timeless and elegant option.
At MedalStudio, we often recommend this style of medal for running events with a large number of participants. Their technical complexity tends to be lower compared to custom-shaped designs.
What’s more, their message is universally understood, everyone recognises the symbolic value of a gold or silver medas. This makes the award process faster and more straightforward when presenting by category.
If you choose to go with classic medals, don’t forget that they can still be personalised with the event name, date, and location. In fact, we offer a fee design service includes us putting together a visual representation based on the information and logos or images you provide us with.
More Than Just a Medal
If you're organising a running event, remember that choosing meaningful symbols, vibrant colours, and contrasting materials for your medals can help tell your event's story and create long-lasting memories.
If you'd like more tips on how to design medals, we recommend reading this guide.
If you have any questions regarding our products, please do not hesitate to email us at [email protected] or call us at 01377 250449.
Updated: 28/05/2025