Custom Awards Frequently Asked Questions

What are custom awards and how can they be personalized?

Custom awards are awards that are personalized or designed specifically for an individual, organization, competition or event. Depending on the type of award, customization can include personalization of names, logos, custom artwork, event information, engraving, full-color printing, custom inserts, materials, colors and other design elements .

Custom awards can range from economical stock awards with personalized engraving to custom insert medals featuring your own artwork and fully custom awards created specifically for an event or organization. The amount of customization you need often depends on the importance of the event, number of awards required and available budget.

Sports teams, schools, businesses, tournaments, races and other organizations use custom awards to create recognition that is more closely connected to the recipient and accomplishment. Even simple personalization such as adding a name, event and date can turn a standard award into a meaningful keepsake.

What types of custom awards can be made with a logo or custom design?

Many types of awards can incorporate a company logo, school mascot, team logo, event design or custom artwork . Depending on the product, customization may be accomplished through use of engraving, full-color printing, or other personalization methods.

Popular options include custom medals, custom full color plaques, custom acrylic awards, custom insert resin trophies, custom insert championship belts, custom titan rings and other personalized awards. Custom insert medals are particularly useful when organizations want to incorporate full-color artwork or a logo while keeping the underlying medal affordable. Other items that can be personalized or customized include bag tags, dog tags, champ chains, and ribbons.

The best type of custom award depends on how the award will be used. Medals are practical for tournaments and events with many recipients, while plaques and acrylic awards can provide a more substantial presentation for individual, academic or corporate recognition .

How much do custom awards cost?

The cost of a custom award depends on the type of award, size, materials, quantity and amount of customization required . An economical medal with a custom printed insert, for example, will generally have a very different cost structure than a fully custom die cast medal, lapel pin or elaborate personalized award.

Quantity can also have a significant effect on the cost per award. When the setup or design costs of a custom product are spread across a larger order, the per-piece cost may be lower. For events requiring many awards, custom inserts for medals, resin trophies, champ chains, lapel pins or championship belts, and personalized stock awards can provide an economical alternative to creating a completely new award.

When comparing custom award prices, consider the complete finished award, including personalization, engraving, ribbons or accessories and any design or setup costs that may apply.

How long does it take to make custom awards?

Production time for custom awards varies depending on the product and the amount of customization involved. Engraved stock awards and custom insert awards can often be produced more quickly than fully custom awards that require unique manufacturing, tooling or more extensive design work. Of course with unique artwork, plan on additional graphics time. The quantity ordered, complexity of the artwork and time required for design approval can also affect the schedule. Fully custom medals and other made-to-order products should generally be planned farther in advance than awards that are personalized from existing stock designs.

When ordering awards for a tournament, race, graduation, banquet or other event with a fixed date, allow adequate time for artwork, production and shipping. Providing complete personalization information and usable artwork when placing the order can also help avoid unnecessary delays.

Can I order custom awards in small quantities?

Minimum order requirements for custom awards depend on the product and manufacturing method. Some personalized awards can be ordered individually or in small quantities because an existing award is being customized with engraving, printing or another personalization method.

Other products, particularly fully custom medals, die cast lapel pins or other awards manufactured specifically for an event or with unique artwork, may require minimum quantities because of design, tooling or graphics/production setup requirements.

What information can be engraved on a personalized award?

Personalized awards can often be engraved with information such as the recipient's name, event name, achievement, placement, team, division, score, date or a short recognition message . The amount of information that will fit depends on the size and design of the engraving area.

For sports tournaments, engraving might identify the event, division and first-, second- or third-place finish. School awards may include a student's name, academic achievement and year, while business recognition awards might feature an employee's name, accomplishment and years of service.

Good engraving is usually concise. Including the most important information rather than trying to fit a long message onto a small award generally creates a cleaner appearance and makes the personalization easier to read.

What is the difference between custom insert medals and fully custom medals?

A custom insert medal uses an existing medal design with a recessed area that holds a personalized insert. The insert can feature a logo, mascot, event name or full-color artwork. Because the basic medal has already been manufactured, custom insert medals can provide an economical way to create a medal specific to your event.

A fully custom medal is designed specifically for the customer and can provide greater control over the medal's shape, artwork, size, finish and overall appearance. These medals are typically called custom die cast medals. Other types of fully customized award medals include custom wood medals and custom acrylic medals. This makes fully custom medals particularly attractive for major tournaments, races, championships and annual events that want a distinctive award.

The right choice generally comes down to quantity, budget, design requirements and how unique you want the finished medal to be. Custom insert medals provide an excellent balance between affordability and personalization, while fully custom medals provide greater creative freedom.

Can custom awards include a company, school, team or event logo?

Yes. Many custom awards can incorporate a company logo, school mascot, team emblem, tournament logo or event artwork . The method used to reproduce the logo depends on the award and may include engraving, full-color printing, a custom insert or another decoration process.

Logo awards are particularly effective for recurring events and recognition programs because they create a consistent identity. A school can use its mascot across academic and athletic awards, while a tournament or company can use the same logo on different award styles.

For the best results, provide the highest-quality artwork available, (vector or high resolution bitmap). The artwork requirements may vary depending on whether the logo will be engraved, printed or reproduced using another process.

What are the best custom awards for tournaments, schools and special events?

The best custom award depends on the event, number of recipients and significance of the accomplishment. Custom medals and personalized stock medals work particularly well for sports tournaments, races, schools and competitions where many awards are needed.

Plaques, trophies and acrylic awards can provide a more substantial presentation for champions, academic recognition, coaches, employees and individual accomplishments. Championship belts, champ chains (oversized medallions) and titan rings offer distinctive alternatives for major competitions, fantasy sports, league champions and special events.

Many organizations use several award types together. For example, athletes might receive personalized medals for individual placement while the overall champion receives a larger trophy, plaque, championship belt or other special award.

How do I submit artwork or a logo for a custom award?

The artwork requirements for a custom award depend on the product and method used to reproduce the design. In general, providing a clear, high-quality version of your logo or artwork will produce the best results. Typical file types include jpg, pdf, ai (Adobe Illustrator), cr (Corel Draw) or eps.

Vector artwork is often preferred for certain types of production because it can be enlarged or reduced without losing image quality. High-resolution image files may also work for products using full-color printing. If your artwork contains small text, fine details or multiple colors, the design may need to be adjusted to reproduce clearly at the size of the finished award.

When submitting artwork, include any important instructions regarding colors, wording, placement and other design requirements. Reviewing names, dates and other personalized information carefully before production is also important because custom awards are created specifically for your order.

Can I create matching awards for different winners, divisions or award categories?

Yes. Many award programs use the same basic award design while changing the personalization for different recipients, placements, divisions or award categories. This creates a consistent appearance across the event while still allowing each award to identify the specific accomplishment.

For a sports tournament, for example, the same medal design might be used for several age groups or divisions, with different engraving for first, second and third place, or different colored neckband. Schools can use a coordinated award design for different academic achievements, while businesses can create matching awards for sales performance, years of service, leadership or other employee recognition categories.

Gold, silver and bronze finishes, different ribbon colors, custom inserts, engraving and printed personalization can also help distinguish award levels. Using a coordinated family of awards can give a tournament, school or recognition program a professional and consistent appearance without requiring a completely different award design for every recipient.

What should I consider when designing a custom award?

When designing a custom award, consider the size of the award, type of artwork, amount of text, colors, materials, number of awards needed and how the finished award will be presented. A design that looks good on a computer screen may need to be simplified when reproduced on a smaller medal, lapel pin or other award.

Start with the most important elements, such as your event name, organization logo, mascot or primary artwork. Avoid overcrowding the design with unnecessary text or very small details that may be difficult to reproduce clearly. Information such as recipient names, divisions, placement and dates can often be added separately through engraving or other personalization.

The manufacturing method also matters. Full-color printing works well for detailed graphics and multiple colors, while die cast products can create raised and recessed dimensional designs. Custom inserts provide an economical option when full-color artwork is desired without manufacturing an entirely new award. Choosing the appropriate production method for your artwork, quantity and budget can have a major impact on the appearance and cost of the finished custom award.