How to Choose the Right Material for a Custom Award: Bronze, Aluminum, Acrylic, Crystal, or Wood?

The Impact of Choosing the Right Award Material

When someone steps onto a stage or into the spotlight to receive an award, the moment lasts only seconds — but the object they’re handed becomes part of their journey. The material they touch — its weight, temperature, texture, and presence — communicates something far deeper than aesthetics. It tells the recipient: this matters.

At Bennett Awards — a studio born from fine art sculpture and evolved into a leader of modern material innovation — the choice of material is never incidental. It’s foundational to the emotion of the piece. A hand-patinated bronze sculpture feels like heritage. A milled aluminum form — crisp, minimal, engineered with artful precision — feels contemporary and elevated. Acrylic expresses color, translucency, and creativity. Crystal refracts light in celebratory, high-prestige moments. Wood brings warmth, organic beauty, and a sense of authenticity unmatched by synthetic or polished materials.

As Bob Bennett explains, “When choosing an award material, we let the parameters of the award determine what material would work best… What’s important for customers to understand is that we will help you with every step of the conceptual process for your award, including finding the right material.” Because Bennett sits uniquely at the intersection of artistry, industrial design, and advanced manufacturing, we guide clients toward what not only looks beautiful — but what feels right for their brand, their event, and the story they’re trying to tell.

Understanding the Main Award Materials

Each material carries its own visual language, design possibilities, and emotional resonance.

Bronze — Traditional, Sculptural, Heirloom-Level

Bronze is ideal for:

• Figurative, organic, or symbolic forms

• Deep patinas and story-rich finishes

• Ceremonial, historic, or legacy-grounded recognition

• Brands rooted in heritage or tradition
  

It is premium, expressive, and timeless — chosen when the moment calls for gravitas and fine-art craftsmanship.

Milled Aluminum — Modern, Precise, and Architecturally Clean

Aluminum is the preferred choice for:

• Sleek geometry and contemporary design

• Razor-sharp edges and flawless symmetry

• Premium finishes (brushed, bead-blasted, anodized)

• Faster timelines and excellent cost-to-quality
  

It’s the material for brands who want sophistication, precision, and a modern identity.

Acrylic — Colorful, Expressive, and Versatile

Acrylic is ideal when a design requires:

• Color, translucency, and vibrancy

• Innovative shapes or graphic-forward storytelling

• Layered design elements or embedded objects

• Quick-turn timelines
  

It’s playful, modern, and limitless in possibility — perfect for bold, expressive brand narratives.

Recycled Acrylic — Sustainable, Beautiful, and Mission-Aligned

As part of our Bennett Remade™ initiative, we also offer awards crafted from recycled acrylic — a material that transforms industrial scrap and post-consumer plastics into high-end, design-forward recognition pieces.

Recycled acrylic is ideal for brands that value:

• Sustainability and circular design

• Environmental storytelling (eco awards, clean energy, regenerative industries)

• Colorful, expressive form with a lighter footprint

• A modern, responsible aesthetic that aligns with ESG commitments

It performs beautifully in:

• Layered acrylic structures

• Tinted or gradient blocks

• Edge-lit or light-reactive designs

• Hybrid compositions (aluminum + recycled acrylic, wood + recycled acrylic)
  

Recycled acrylic retains the same optical clarity and vibrancy as virgin acrylic — with the added resonance of a sustainability-focused narrative. With Bennett Remade, brands can choose a material that not only looks elevated but carries a meaningful message about stewardship and innovation.

When used intentionally, acrylic (recycled or traditional) becomes an artful, sculptural, museum-worthy medium — perfect for brands seeking modernity, boldness, and color-forward expression.

Crystal — Brilliant, Refined, and Photogenic

Crystal works beautifully when the moment calls for:

• Instant prestige and visual luxury

• Clarity, light refraction, and elegance

• Etching-based storytelling

• High-visibility events or stage presentations

While customization can be limited, its visual impact is undeniable.

Wood Awards — Warm, Organic, and Naturally Story-Driven

Wood holds a special place in Bennett’s material library — one that honors nature’s textures, tones, and inherent storytelling power. While Bennett’s reputation is often tied to metal and sculpture, the studio’s designers frequently incorporate wood for clients seeking authenticity, warmth, and a more human, craft-centric aesthetic.

Wood is chosen when a design should feel:

• Organic and grounded — connected to nature and craft

• Warm and approachable — softer than metal, more tactile than acrylic

• Sustainable and intentional — a nod toward stewardship or earth-centered values

• Elegant yet understated — perfect for brands who want quiet sophistication
  

What wood expresses that other materials don’t:

• Distinct grain patterns that make each piece one-of-one

• A warm hand-feel that immediately conveys approachability

• Natural variation and tone that enhances storytelling

• The ability to mix beautifully with aluminum, bronze, or acrylic for hybrid designs
  

Bennett’s designers often use wood to:

• Elevate bases and pedestals with natural richness

• Create sculptural forms with CNC precision

• Add organic contrast to metal components

• Communicate sustainability or craftsmanship-forward branding
  

Popular woods in Bennett’s studio include:

• Walnut — rich, dark, and luxurious

• Maple — light, clean, minimal

• Oak — strong-grained, architectural

• Reclaimed woods — for stories rooted in history or environmental impact

Wood is ideal for brands who value authenticity, approachability, and timeless craftsmanship — and want their award to feel as human as the people receiving it.

Choosing the Material That Reflects Your Brand

There is no single “best” material — only the one that expresses your brand’s ethos and the moment you’re honoring.

Ask yourself:

1. What emotional tone should the award express?

• Bronze: legacy, heritage, reverence

• Aluminum: innovation, precision, modernity

• Acrylic: creativity, color, playfulness

• Crystal: luxury, celebration, brilliance

• Wood: warmth, authenticity, grounded storytelling
  
  

2. What form does your story require?

• Figurative or organic → Bronze

• Geometric or minimal → Aluminum

• Color-driven or layered → Acrylic

• Photogenic elegance → Crystal

• Natural, warm, or craft-centered → Wood
  
  

3. How should it feel in the recipient’s hand?

• Heirloom-heavy → Bronze

• Cool, sculptural → Aluminum

• Light and expressive → Acrylic

• Smooth, polished → Crystal

• Warm, organic → Wood
  
  

4. What are your timeline and budget?

• Fast → Aluminum or Acrylic

• High-end heirloom → Bronze

• Prestige with simplicity → Crystal

• Versatility and sustainability → Wood
  
  

“When choosing an award material,” Bob says, “we consider the design, the presentation, who’s receiving the award, how it will be used, how it will be stored…”

Rivas adds, “Are we playing with specularity? Do we need a muted finish? A color? A protectant? Is the trophy going to be handled by dozens of people?”

The right material elevates the moment — and the meaning.

Design Your Custom Award with Bennett

Every award begins with a story. The right material brings that story to life.

Whether you’re celebrating legacy, honoring innovation, or expressing your brand through craftsmanship, Bennett’s designers and artisans bring decades of expertise across all materials — metal, crystal, acrylic, and wood.

Explore our Custom Awards & Trophies page to see what’s possible, or connect with our team for a personalized consultation.

Let’s design an award that feels meaningful, beautiful, and unmistakably yours.