How Colour Printed Wooden Medals Gave the IRONBRIDGE CUP a Strong, Modern Finish

Competition medals need to do more than simply show the event name.

They need to feel clear, recognisable and appropriate for the moment they are handed out.

For the IRONBRIDGE CUP, we created custom colour printed wooden medals using a bold trophy-led design and a gold ribbon to give the award a strong competition feel.

The result was a medal that looked modern and event-specific while still keeping the natural character of wood.

The Design Challenge

The main challenge was creating a medal that felt like a genuine competition award without making the design unnecessarily complicated.

The medal needed to:

• Make the IRONBRIDGE CUP name easy to recognise.
• Use colour strongly enough to give the award impact.
• Include a clear trophy-style visual.
• Feel suitable for a competitive event.
• Work well with a gold ribbon.

Why Colour Printed Wood Worked

Colour printed wooden medals work particularly well when the event identity depends on bold graphics rather than engraving alone.

For the IRONBRIDGE CUP, colour printing allowed the trophy graphic and event wording to stand out clearly while keeping the wooden base visible.

The Trophy Graphic Did the Heavy Lifting

One of the strongest elements of the design is the trophy icon.

It immediately tells the recipient what the medal represents without needing lots of extra decoration.

This is a useful lesson for other organisers.

If your event has one clear symbol that represents competition, achievement or the event itself, it can often become the main focal point of the medal.

Why the Gold Ribbon Worked

The gold ribbon gave the medal an extra competition feel without needing to add metallic finishes to the wooden medal itself.

This is a good example of using the ribbon to support the award rather than treating it as an afterthought.

A ribbon can be used to:

• Reinforce event colours.
• Create a more premium finish.
• Separate different categories.
• Distinguish winner medals from participation medals.
• Carry sponsor branding or event wording.

In this case, the gold ribbon helped the finished medal feel more like a competition award while keeping the medal itself clean and simple.

Could This Have Been Engraved Instead?

Yes — but it would have created a very different result.

Because the IRONBRIDGE CUP design relied on a strong visual graphic, colour printing was the better fit.

When This Style of Medal Works Best

This type of colour printed wooden medal can work especially well for:

• Sports tournaments.
• Club competitions.
• School competitions.
• Football tournaments.
• Martial arts events.
• Running races.
• Community competitions.
• Corporate challenges.

It is a useful option when you want something more visually branded than engraving, but do not necessarily need the added depth of a double layer medal.

What Other Event Organisers Can Learn

The IRONBRIDGE CUP medal is a good example of keeping the design focused.

Before creating a competition medal, ask:

• What is the main symbol or visual for the event?
• Does the medal need colour to work properly?
• Would engraving simplify the design too much?
• Could the ribbon carry some of the visual impact?
• Do different categories need different ribbon colours?
• Does the medal feel appropriate for the level of competition?

A simple design with one strong focal point often produces a better result than trying to make every part of the medal compete for attention.

Case Study Summary

The Final Result

The finished IRONBRIDGE CUP medal created a clear and recognisable award without relying on a complicated design.

The colour printed trophy graphic gave the medal a strong focal point, the natural wooden base kept it distinctive, and the gold ribbon completed the competition look.

It is a good example of how a straightforward medal can still feel specific to the event when the branding, print and ribbon are considered together.

Want to Compare Medal Styles?

If you are deciding between engraved wood, colour printed wood or slate for your competition, request a free sample pack and compare the different materials and finishes in person.

Planning a Sports Competition?

Send us your event branding, date and approximate quantity and we can suggest a medal style that fits your competition.