Top 10 Creative Medal Shape Designs

The circular medal is the most popular and traditional shape of the medal. The modern circular medal maintains the classic round shape but enhances it with fresh features such as cutouts and three-dimensional textures, and designs. The advancements resulted in a great look for the medal while still making the classic shape. 

Round medals are excellent options for marathons, school award ceremonies, and other events because they allow organizers to have their component of simplicity and timelessness and with modern craftsmanship.

Medals in the geometric polygon style showcase bold polygons, including hexagons, pentagons, triangles, or a creative mixture of shapes. The sharply defined angles and shapes make for a clearly modern look that will not go unnoticed.

Medals with basic, symmetric, and easily recognizable geometric shapes convey an impactful visual and modern feel to accommodate event ideas related to technology activities, fitness challenges, corporate awards through modern techniques, or competitions requiring fresh style and innovation.

Medals shaped like icons are designed around specific symbols that depict the theme of the event, such as running shoes, mountains, musical notes, or books. The designs that shape the medal help create an immediate association of the medal with the event experiences and the connection to the spirit of competition. 

Icon-shaped medals are suitable for any themed competition or event, and for cultural or music festivals and education. Icon-shaped medals provide personality, storytelling, and a keepsake that can be visualized and displayed by participants.

Medals shaped like a landmark or map outline evoke sites from urban skylines, state borders, or well-known structures. This allows an event to show where it happened and provides a fine visual connection to the site, making the medal mean that much more to our participants. 

Landmark medals serve as great options for races that deal with travel, city marathons, or races that have some destination to enjoy, giving participants a souvenir of their accomplishment and of the place they received it.

Medals that are shaped like animals feature distinctive mascots, symbolic animals, or fanciful creatures that turn an idea or interesting figure into an award. The designs are fun, interactive, and memorable, and the player will quickly associate with the theme or spirit of the event.

Animal-shaped medals are excellent for children's events, charitable events, or targeted promotions for the brand mascot. In summary, animal shape medals provide personality, a narrative element, a collectible fun element, and most importantly, the participants will love their award.

Medals with unique silhouettes that have a double or multi-layered construction use layers and irregular shapes to create depth, dimension, and visual storytelling.

Medals that use multiple layers or have a unique texture can be detailed and complex, providing a sense of prestige to the medal and invoking more of a feeling of being an artwork. They provide resonance with high-level competitions, multi-series races, or events that want to create emphasis on achievement, progression, or a unique collectible design.

Medals that rotate or mechanically interact with participants have a component that twists on a central piece or an outer ring that moves. This gives an engaging composition with a tactile experience for all involved. 

This type of medal design is engaging for participants and increases the perceived value of the award. 

These medals are perfect for high-end competitions or events that want to impress participants with an interactive innovation and memorable keepsake.

Medals made of puzzle pieces consist of a number of pieces that fit together to form a complete shape and design. Each piece is earned by participating and completing a series of races, competitions, or challenges for a total, completed medal build-up. This design creates a continued sense of accomplishment and motivates participants to continue racing. 

In challenge races, and multi-day and multi-series events, puzzle-style medals are gaining popularity to add a collectible interactive experience for participants to enjoy and keep them engaged on their goal to receive all pieces to a completed medal journey.

3D embossed custom medals have a raised surface with sculpted edges that showcase the life of the artwork and provide a three-dimensional appearance. Non-flat designs allow the contours, fine textures, and other details to be depicted that the standard medal does not have.

3D embossed custom medals are ideal for representing lots of detail, such as logos, character faces, and mascots, or trophy-style artwork. They are a premium and highly artistic option designed for events looking for a striking medal with a visual impact.

Medals in an abstract art style exhibit a range of flowing curves, smooth lines, and bold modern curves. They break away from traditional medal silhouettes to achieve a more contemporary look that is more visually expressive and captivating. 

These medals are perfect for creative industries, art competitions, or any corporate awards that would like to be viewed outside the tradition award concept. An abstract design conveys originality and innovation, highlighting that each medal is an art piece rather than an award.

Be sure the shape of the medal you choose connects with your event theme or objective. 

For instance, a marathon may warrant a running shoe-shaped medal, while an art contest may lend itself to an abstract shape. 

Think about the age (youth vs adult) of your participants around their "would I enjoy that?"

In general, children typically will think a medal in the shape of a mascot or an animal is fun.

Choose a medal shape that aligns well with your brand. And ensure to incorporate the brand color, logo, and any other shapes or images that are brand-associated.

Be aware that some shapes, such as multi-layered or 3D embossed designs, may present higher costs of production. Make sure to balance your creative ideas within your budget. 

Think about how the medal will feel hanging on your neck. Thicker, heavier, or odd shapes may require some suggestions to be adjusted for comfort. 

Choose materials that complement the style of the event and your budget. Change the thickness and colors of the finishes to improve the look and durability.