Mastering Finisher Medal Design: The Complete Guide to Custom Award Medals & Ribbons

Table of Contents

awards medal with ribbons

The Anatomy of Custom Medals

Not just medals, custom medals the anatomy of custom medals that means something.

Their anatomy consists of several key components that work together to create a functional and visually appealing piece:

  • Medallion: The centerpiece and focal point of any medal, typically featuring two faces. The obverse (front) often carries the main design or logo, and the reverse (back) can include additional details such as event dates or sponsor names.

  • Suspension Connector: This essential part connects the medallion to the ribbon or lanyard, ensuring the medal is wearable. Typical connectors are metal loops, hooks, or custom designs that match the theme of the medal.

  • Ribbon or Lanyard: An integral component for wearing the medal. Our standard neck ribbons are 32 to 36 inches long and widths vary depending on the medal size. For example, the 2-inch medals usually accompany a 1-inch ribbon, whereas larger medals of 2.5 inches or more need wider ribbons, close to 1.5 inches, to fit in harmony.

  • Top Bar or Brooch: Optional but often used for pin-style medals. These add a decorative or functional element.

  • Personalization and Accessories: These include engraved messages, additional charms or decorative elements that complete the overall design.

We make medals with different types of materials to accommodate all budgets and requirements.

Typical metals such as zinc and brass are used for their sturdiness and finish, while premium choices might include actual metal plating, for example, gold or silver.

gold medal

For budget-sensitive projects or lower quantities, insert medals, which are printed designs contained in a metal or plastic frame, are a cost-saving option. 

Eco-friendly alternatives such as wooden, biodegradable, or recycled medals are increasingly favored for their environmental benefits.

Custom is what makes medals pop. Classic engraving still offers classic designs, while sublimation printing allows for vibrant, full color images.

Diecast designs enable detailed 3D embossing, ideal for custom shapes or logos. The size, shape and thickness of the medal contribute to its effect.

The heavier and thicker the medal, the more substantial and prestigious it will feel, whereas unusual shapes can highlight creativity.

insert medal and wood medal
insert medal and wood medal

Why Custom Ribbons Matter

Here’s why custom medals and ribbons are so important. By making the presentation special, they turn ordinary awards into treasured tokens of accomplishment. 

At ceremonies, these sports medals and ribbons add to the ambiance, helping awards seem that much more special and personal to recipients.

To illustrate, an event name and year imprinted onto the ribbon can give a sense of history, transforming a run-of-the-mill medal into a memento.

This customization not only commemorates the winners’ accomplishment but encourages continued engagement by providing a physical feeling of distinction.

Features and Benefits

Feature

Benefit

Full-color customization

Allows intricate designs, logos, and text to be vividly displayed.

Durable polyester material

Ensures the ribbon lasts for years without fading or fraying.

Smooth, silky feel

Enhances comfort and elegance during prolonged wear.

Versatile width options

Offers flexibility in design, from bold to subtle presentation.

Customizable lengths

Adapts to various award sizes, ensuring a perfect fit.

Eco-friendly printing

Appeals to sustainability-conscious events and organizations.

All of these qualities combine to make custom sublimated ribbons an ideal choice for professional and eye-catching sports medals.

Fabric-Ribbon
Fabric-Ribbon
Satin-Ribbon
Satin-Ribbon

Durability and Silky Feel

Most good custom award medals are made from polyester because of its longevity and silky feel. It wears like iron, refusing to fade or crack and peel.

Polyester’s silky touch lends a classiness that is perfect for black tie occasions or elite tournaments.

For instance, sports medals or academic ceremonies often opt for polyester ribbons as they are resistant to being handled frequently yet still maintain a sophisticated look. This combination of durability and comfort means recipients can wear their hard-earned accolades with pride for years to come.

Versatility

Custom ribbons are incredibly versatile, serving not only as neck ribbons for medals but also as award ribbons for various achievements like ‘Best Performance’ and ‘Most Innovative’.

They can even feature special elements such as LEDs or leather to enhance the theme of an event.

The width variation contributes to their versatility; wider ribbons make a bold statement, ideal for grand accomplishments, while narrower ribbons are perfect for understated events.

With countless options to customize, these ribbons can be tailored to fit any occasion’s mood and intent, making them great custom medals for recipients.

Designing Your Award Medals

To create great custom medals that resonate with the spirit of your event, it’s essential to carefully consider every design detail, from beautiful artwork to finishes.

Design Elements

We start with artwork that fits the event theme in designing a medal.

Be it a sports competition, academic achievement, or corporate recognition, the imagery should match its intention.

For example, a marathon medal could include a runner motif, whereas a professional award may utilize stylish, contemporary designs.

Medal colors play a key role in eye-catching designs.

Pantone color matching adds precision, so event organizers can match branding or themes. Here’s an example of available options:

Pantone Match

Application

Metallic Gold

Luxury, prestige

Deep Blue

Professionalism, trust

Bright Red

Energy, excitement

Forest Green

Nature, sustainability

Finishes like gold polished or bronze antique add texture and depth to your finished product. These finishes can be colorfilled to emphasize design details.

Logos, Text, Insignias

Personalization is what transforms a generic medal into a cherished keepsake.

By incorporating logos, event names, and custom medal ribbons, you can effectively tie your award medals to their specific purpose.

For instance, a school might engrave its crest into custom awards medals for an academic ceremony, while a sports league could include the tournament year.

Insignias or custom imagery, such as a city skyline for a local race, enhance the medal’s significance even further.

Combined with durable materials like zinc or brass, these elements ensure the medal remains a treasured keepsake for years to come.

marathon medal
Red Baron Half Marathon Medal

Aesthetics and Budget

Creating beautiful custom medals doesn’t have to be expensive, with prices typically ranging from $0.80 to $6.90 per medal based on size, material, and volume.

For budget-friendly occasions, smaller sports medals, around 1 3/4 inches in diameter, are both economical and classy.

Eco-conscious choices, such as recycled metals or biodegradable materials, are available for groups emphasizing sustainability.

To further control costs, consider avoiding intricate designs that include multiple color fills or large patterns, as these can increase manufacturing expenses.

By contacting a vendor four to five weeks in advance, you can ensure affordable pricing and timely delivery of your award medals.

Your Medal Creation Journey

Custom medals and ribbons are a process that follows a series of steps resulting in a meaningful and lasting item.

This is a simple flow, so it is important to plan ahead and work with veteran manufacturers. Here’s a detailed guide to help you navigate the journey:

  1. Design the dream. Begin by defining what your medals are for. Be it a sports competition, academic event, or corporate recognition, the design must embody the event’s value and theme. Think about the shape, size, and material—perhaps something traditional like metals or something sustainable such as biodegradable plastics or sustainable timber. If your design has raised or indented surfaces, consider how shadows and highlights will emphasize the detail.

  2. Pick a trusted manufacturer. Working with a trusted supplier like PeaKeen means quality and reliability. Seasoned makers who craft hundreds of thousands sturdy medals each year can provide you with design-driven guidance to polish your idea. Their experience eliminates mistakes and streamlines production.

  3. Dive into Personalization. Customization makes it personal. Whether that’s engraving names or adding event logos, the possibilities are endless. Ribbons can be personalized with colors, patterns or text to complement the medal design. For instance, ribbons can call attention to sponsors or event categories, which adds flavor to the presentation.

  4. Take advantage of bulk pricing. Bulk ordering saves you a lot. For big events or organizations, manufacturers usually offer volume discounts so it is cost-effective to order premium medals. One medal can cost you anywhere between $0.80 and $6.90, depending on the material and level of complexity. Bulk orders can activate discounts, particularly when made ahead of schedule.

  5. Artwork Approval & Finalize Specs. Explicit communication is essential. Collaborate directly with the manufacturer to approve medal artwork and ribbon designs. This guarantees the end result is in line with your vision. There may be revisions needed, but patience in this step avoids disappointment later.

  6. Order early. Ordering 4 to 5 weeks in advance of your event provides enough time for production and shipping. Ordering early gives you a cushion against unforeseen delays and may even save you money with early-bird discounts.

A beautifully designed medal that recipients treasure for years has a smaller environmental footprint than poorly manufactured options.

With today’s technology, bringing your own medal to life is easier and more satisfying than ever before.

The Art of Awarding

The art of awarding, whether in athletics, education, or business, remains eternally relevant.

Custom medals and ribbons enhance this recognition, making it even more personal and meaningful. These aren’t just awards; they signify commitment, effort, and accomplishment.

Whether at a school competition, a corporate awards show, or a local sporting event, custom award medals establish a stronger bond between giver and recipient, leaving a memorable impact.

Awards Ceremony
Image Source: Stgeorgemarathon

There’s nothing quite like the emotional jolt of a well-engineered award. The experience of receiving a medal for your accomplishment, especially one that features your name or a unique design, instills a sense of pride.

For instance, a student who excels at a science fair might cherish their engraved medal years later, not merely as a triumph but as a memento of dedication.

Similarly, rewarding employees with custom medal ribbons for their contributions fosters appreciation, boosting morale and motivation.

These awards evolve into cherished mementos that narrate stories of achievement and determination.

Creative Ways to Present Awards

  • Include a short speech highlighting the recipient’s achievement.

  • Couple the medal or ribbon with a certificate or trophy.

  • Give awards at a ceremony.

  • Set these awards proudly in custom built display cases.

  • Make it personal with a handwritten note of thanks.

Design is part of what makes awards memorable.

Choose from different medal holder designs – wreath, star rim, swirling stars – to fit the mood of the event. Cool customization capabilities such as laser-engraved Flexibrass discs provide a clean, contemporary aesthetic, with prices ranging from $0.70 to $1.20 per medal.

For those wanting brilliant colors, color printing is a good choice, costing about $1.00 to $1.75 per medal.

Traditional engraving is still a classic, though a bit more expensive at $1.00 to $1.50 per medal. Either approach helps you craft awards that are special and specific to the moment.

How we give out these awards is just as important as how they’re designed. Bold colors, creative designs and attention-grabbing packaging take it to the next level, turning the recipient into a lifelong fan.

Navigating Project Realities

Designing personalized medals and custom medal ribbons is a creative process that involves strategic planning and execution.

From design tradeoffs to scheduling production of sports medals, succeeding in such projects can be enhanced by confronting typical challenges and applying practical solutions, ultimately making the journey a little smoother for achieving great custom medals.

Common Challenges and Solutions

Before you plunge into production, it’s important to navigate some project realities.

Start with production and shipping schedules. The average order for custom medals is three to five weeks from design sign-off to delivery, though working with overseas suppliers can push this to eight to ten weeks. I find it useful to tack on a seven-day grace period.

Cost is another consideration; making 100 sports medals is more per piece than making 1000 because of economies of scale. Early planning, preferably two months out, reduces costs.

producing

Materials selection is just as crucial.

Zinc alloy, iron, and gold all have special characteristics and value. For complex designs, die-struck medals are a safe bet, as this process permits detailed engraving directly into steel molds.

Finally, the custom award medals’ design has to fit the event’s theme. A carefully considered design will increase the medal’s attractiveness and make it memorable for those who receive it.

Design and Production

Precision starts with partnership, especially when creating custom medals.

Working with the pros, like veteran designers or manufacturers, can improve your chances of getting it right.

Always ask for proofs or mockups prior to production. Going over these meticulously, preferably by several stakeholders, helps catch mistakes early.

For instance, second-guess font selections, spelling, and color matching to prevent expensive reworking down the line.

When choosing finishes—polished gold, antique silver, matte bronze, etc.—ensure they align with the design and are appropriate for the event’s tone.

Flexibility Adjustments

When it comes to custom projects, especially in creating custom medals, it’s important to recognize that they rarely go as planned.

Even with careful planning, surprises requiring realignment often arise.

For instance, a client may spring last-minute design or color changes for their custom medal ribbons.

Regular contact with the supplier can make such changes feasible, easing the management of unexpected concerns like sourcing delays.

Trusted Supplier

With a trusted provider in your corner, even the most challenging projects become more manageable.

Reliable vendors typically have workflows for handling it all, from design advice to manufacturing and shipping.

They might suggest cost-efficient ideas, such as durable but economical materials or saving on orders by ordering in bulk, like custom medals or award medals.

Crafting a powerful collaborator guarantees stellar outcomes and minimizes anxiety along the way.

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