for the Love of Awards

From the glamour of walking a red (or orange) carpet, to the anticipation of hearing a winner's name announced – and perhaps most of all, the shining trophies, we love awards. Unique Custom Awards is dedicated to going in-depth on the most beautiful and unusual of awards programs and statuettes.

METAL

Trophies crafted in metal offer amazing levels of detail. Many of the world's most famous and prestigious awards statuettes are crafted in metal, such as the Academy Award, Golden Globe, Grammy, Emmy and FIFA World Cup Trophy. The materials can vary greatly, but high end trophies are typically made from solid sterling silver, aeronautical grade aluminum or pure zinc with a precious metal electroplating.

Unconventional

While the conventional awards – such as metal trophy cups – can be exceptional pieces of recognition, some awards programs utilize more unconventional materials in order to set the tone for the ceremony. For instance, the Dancing with the Stars Mirrorball trophy incorporates a mirrored disco ball and rightly sets the tone of an energetic, lighthearted and fun program.

Lucite/Acrylic

Acrylic – and it's high-end sibling, Lucite – is an extraordinary material with endless possibilities. It can be either opaque or translucent and comes in a huge array of color options. It can be cast or machined, much like metal awards. However, unlike metal, acrylic designs(specifically the translucent variety) can incorporate embedments because the melting temperature is much lower than for metal.

We think custom awards – in their vastly diverse forms – are an often overlooked form of commercial art. Each is instilled with so much meaning and purpose. For the individual who holds one of these artworks, there is an overwhelming sense of success.

Scale

Size is an important factor in designing an award. Some programs dictate a smaller, precious piece of recognition. This could be the case for a creative competition, where simplicity is valued. In contrast, sports trophies are typically larger to be more epic and more visible to large crowds. The ELEAGUE trophy is a good example, it is a televised e-sports program and a huge accomplishment.

style

Some awards in the history of recognition stand out for their cutting-edge style. Good taste runs as a common theme for all of the trophies we highlight on Unique Custom Awards. The Vega Digital Awards statuette is a really unique sculpture. The base is incorporated in a really unexpected way – it is flat for personalization in the front, but is a sort of cliff on the back that the figure is climbing.

presence

Certain materials have a presence that exudes absolute luxury. Machined aluminum is an example of this. When the surface of an aluminum award is polished to a mirror finish, it gleams as no other material. The YouTube Diamond creator award combines this material with a central crystal and an unexpected form – that of a standing plaque in the shape of the brand's iconic play button logo.

The awards we profile on our site are some of our all-time favorites. Each is included for a different reason, but they all share a common factor – that they are unlike anything else.

Fun-Loving

For a custom trophy's design to be successful, it must align with the program and the honor. The form of the Fandom trophy nails this by utilizing a fun, trendy emoticon to represent the fun-loving program.

Craftsmanship

If an award is really exclusive, there is more incentive to utilize more expensive materials and processes. The Hip Hop Honors are presented to a limited number of industry icons, and the trophy is machined from solid, aeronautical grade aluminum and assembled by hand.

Iconic

Using a brand hero as the inspiration for an award can be a very successful strategy for awards design. The form is instantly recognizable and already has extraordinary value. The iconic Nickelodeon ‘blimp’ is an excellent example of this.

Awards & Trophies are works of art.