The influence of a physical token cannot be overestimated in the field of employee recognition. Bonuses and gift cards are nice, but they soon get engulfed in daily life and are forgotten. An intelligently created award, though, will remain a reminder of accomplishment and worth forever. One of these is a well-made plaque, whose place is special. It’s a classic symbol of honour, but not all plaques are created equal. A generic piece can be compared to a meaning-making piece, but the process of designing is the difference. So, how do you create plaques that your employees will genuinely be excited to display with pride?
Stop Being Generic
The most glaring error in award design is treating recognition as a universal undertaking. An employee of the Month plaque with a nameplate on it that is already printed is impersonal. This is to ensure that the recipient feels acknowledged and valued.
Start with the inscription.
Rather than an abstract title, add the specific accomplishment of the employee. As an illustration, “Award for Excellence is much weaker than the statements such as:
In recognition of your outstanding performance on the launch of the Phoenix Project. Make the name of the employee very visible, and it may be a good idea to include the date of the achievement.
To add even more personalisation, add a few words of a short but heartfelt quote by their manager or a colleague that hits on their personality, or the particular impact they made. This level of detail transforms plaques into a personal tribute.
Material and Craftsmanship.
The tangible quality of the reward conveys directly the extent to which you appreciate the contribution of the recipient. The message of appreciation may be sabotaged by a flimsy, lightweight plaque that is made of cheap materials.
Invest in materials of high quality. Substance and permanence are given by solid wood, rich metals such as brass or bronze and high-density acrylic.
The finish, whether it is a polished finish, a brushed finish, or even a warm wood finish, must be of quality to the touch. The art is also significant. Accurate etching, deep carving and smooth edges demonstrate that caution was paid in its making. This is the place where collaboration with an expert becomes significant.
A collaboration with one of the leading award-making brands, such as Award.com, will provide opportunities to work with the best materials and techniques, such as laser etching or full-colour sublimation, which will help make the final product a beautiful, high-end object that will be appreciated in relation to the accomplishment it symbolises.
Design to Show
The employee will only be proud to show his or her award provided it fits in their personal or career space. An over-corporate, gaudy, or otherwise ugly plaque will probably be put in a drawer.
Ponder on contemporary multifunctional designs. Strauss lines, light typography, and harmony of the layout will make a perfect timeless work that can fit any office or home study, a modern desk, or a home library.
Consider the colour scheme; is it the right colour scheme that fits your company brand, but without being too overpowering? Giving the option of finishing, i.e. having a classic walnut base or a smooth black acrylic, may also be useful in ensuring the award matches the taste of the recipient. The best plaques are those that people display not out of obligation, but because they genuinely appreciate them as a beautiful object. A designed plaque must be a work of art that commemorates a highlight in a career. Designing plaques employees are proud of is a deliberate process. It involves the shift of generic to the extreme of personalisation, investment in quality materials and craftsmanship, emphasis on aesthetics, and the explicit linking to corporate culture. Get it right, and you are not giving the award, you are offering a permanent source of pride and inspiration, a daily reminder to the employee and any witness of the award that the work he/she does actually matters.
