If the event in question is not something special, and there is no need to put any deeper meaning into it, then the off-the-shelf trophy is quite suitable for that purpose. But if an achievement is unique and tied to a milestone, goal, or season, an ordinary trophy won’t convey its meaning. This is where the trophy performs better than expected: it uses the same trophy form and links it to the actual achievement.
This difference shows not only in the engraving, but also in the form, wording, finish, and even material of the personalized trophy, which is selected individually for each achievement rather than chosen from an existing set of variants. A trophy made this way usually lasts much longer than one made differently.
From Standard Award to Something Personal
When most people think of personalizing trophies, they think about engraving names and dates. This is true to some extent, but the most significant personalization usually happens early in the process, even before the trophy is assembled.
Changes such as replacing the base with a different material, choosing a figure that reflects the actual sporting event or activity rather than a default figure, and using wording related to the actual achievement rather than a general phrase have a much greater effect on how a trophy is perceived than engraving.
- Wording specifically related to the achievement and not a general phrase such as “top performer”
- Material used for the base or plate, creating either a more formal or less formal feeling to the piece
- Figure or topper relevant to the particular sport or event, rather than a default figure
- Size appropriate to the importance of the achievement, and not a standardized size
These factors determine whether a trophy will be placed somewhere it can be seen and admired for years.
Some Achievements Deserve More Than A Standard Trophy
The main advantage of a custom-made trophy is its ability to solve problems that no standard trophy can address. Specialized sports leagues, corporate award ceremonies, and organizations that award achievements not covered by standard trophy categories often run into these situations.
A few more benefits of using a custom design approach include the following:
- Logo and other elements of branding may become integral elements of the trophy, not stickers;
- Shape of the trophy could be based on the activity/achievement for which the trophy is given, not on a standard figure;
- Colors and materials of the trophy may be chosen according to the colors used in the corporate identity of an organization;
- Trophies across a line could be designed similarly, even across different award categories and tiers.
These points are especially important for organizations running recognition campaigns with multiple award categories at once, annual gala events, sports leagues with several divisions, etc.
The Details That Shape Your Custom Trophy
It is usually easier to order custom trophy products when you agree on a few things before you even start designing. Skipping this step can cause orders to be delivered after the deadline, and changes can come up mid-process.
Things worth agreeing on before:
- The wording of each trophy to include names, titles, and dates, which should be checked for spelling errors before designing begins
- The number of trophies that are to be ordered, considering that large numbers may have increased lead time
- Whether the design needs to match past years’ trophy designs for a yearly program
- A rough estimate of the budget, considering that size and material determine cost
This will help the proofing process, during which the design is checked before production, run more smoothly.
Give Every Achievement the Trophy We Deserve
A trophy should serve as a symbol of something particular: an accomplishment, a period, or a significant moment, and the generic options don’t usually manage to convey this very well. It doesn’t matter if it is one unique piece of trophy for some individual award, or even a set of custom awards for a long-running program; what will determine if the trophy will have some meaning or will gather dust on a shelf is the very details, wording, material, and form of that trophy.
Awards A Plus will help you with all of these choices when you’re making them for your individual trophies or awards programs. If you want to order custom trophies for upcoming events or seasons, contact us.