One unique and engaging design feature that can be incorporated into custom awards is the element of movement. Awards with a moveable component are called "kinetic" awards. This movement adds an interactive element to the award, which helps engage the recipient and audience, and amplifies the “wow factor” of the award. This kinetic movement can also support key design themes and objectives associated with the award.

Our bronze sculpture awards, including both custom awards and pre-designed (stock) recognition awards, are created using the “lost wax” casting process. This time-honored production process has been used for thousands of years with very few changes, even extending into today. While there are many foundries that produce bronze sculpture, achieving high-quality bronze castings is not easy. To do this right is a very lengthy, labor-intensive process that requires the talent and expertise of skilled artisans; it is truly part science and part art.

There are a variety of ways to distinguish awards within a common award design to convey different levels of achievement or performance. This post outlines some of the options that are available.

When we embark on a custom awards project, the more detailed information we can collect from the client on their design goals and objectives, the better chance we have of delivering on their needs. Mood boards, brand boards, and branding guideline documents can all be used as effective vehicles for helping to establish the overall design direction at the outset of a custom awards project. 

Customizable awards are a quick, cost effective method of creating unique awards that are customized for your organization or event. In this blog post, we highlight a couple of examples of customizable award projects that we have worked on with our clients.

One of the most popular award designs is that of a realistic figurine, standing at attention. In part because of the Oscars, figurine awards have become a symbol of achievement, and have been used for a variety of custom and stock recognition awards. We offer a range of unique figurine awards – extending from semi-abstract to realistic. The objects these awards hold can all be custom created for the presenting organization or award event.

Wood is a material commonly used for bases in our custom award projects, but many clients don't realize that it can also be a great material for the main sculpture component of the award. Wood offers multiple dimensions for customization, including the shape of the sculpture, construction methodology, and the type of wood selected for the award.

The team at Bennett Awards is very excited to introduce a new non-profit program we’ve sponsored called Recognize Someone (www.recognizesomeone.org). Recognize Someone is a program that helps people recognize someone who has made a positive change in their life, in their community, or in the world as a whole. It's a chance to shine a spotlight on someone's contributions, and share their story with the world.

Color images can be incorporated in any of our crystal awards through a process called digital imprinting. These color images can help reinforce your organization's brand imagery, and add vitality and "pop" to your awards. Digital images can be added to your award in a variety of ways, and can be combined with other engraving options to create unique, distinctive custom awards.

Most of the awards we create are mounted on marble bases. For these types of bases, their are two options for engraving the information you want to convey: engraved plates, or engraving directly on the marble. Which option is best for your award project?

Many of the sculpture awards that we sell – both stock and custom - are cast in bronze, and we often get questions about how to care for these awards. Proper care of your sculpture awards can help maintain their original look and luster for many, many years.

When creating custom awards, one of the key steps is to match a specific design project with the appropriate designer/artist. Since each organization that is commissioning a custom award has its own personality, brand image, and design objectives, it is almost impossible to find a "one size fits all" approach. We are blessed to work with a great team of designers and artists who each have their own unique speciality and design aesthetic, and can find the ideal artist/client match for any given custom award project.

When creating a new custom award, it's important to realize that the engraving sound not be an afterthought. While the sculpture associated with the award is most often the “centerpiece” of the award, it is important to take a holistic approach to the award design, and treat the award engraving as a key element of the award as well. 

Monumental sculptures can be a great way to complement and extend your organization’s recognition and branding initiatives.  Large monumental sculptures and smaller individual recognition awards can be designed and produced based on the same iconic image, such as a corporate logo or organizational symbol or icon. These sculptures can form the visual foundation of an impactful, integrated branding program.