I. Introduction
As the economy blooms so does the cultural richness of people around the globe, and with it, a growing spotlight on health issues. This has led folks to actively partake in events like running, dancing, and more. Consequently, medals have found their way into a wide array of competitions. But ever wondered where these shiny tokens of victory come from? Let’s dive in!
A. Brief history:
Medals did not exist at the beginning. In the first sports events, the winners’ medals were “laurel wreaths” made of olive branches and laurel branches. This may also be influenced by the imperial crown, which made sports events start to learn from it.
This situation lasted until 1907, when the International Olympic Committee held an executive committee meeting in The Hague, Netherlands, and passed a resolution to award gold, silver, and bronze medals to Olympic winners. In 1924, it also stipulated the diameter, thickness, and other related requirements for medals.
The Significance of Medals:
Medals might mean different things in different events, but they generally serve as a nod of recognition and encouragement to the winners. They ignite a sense of pride and confidence, motivating the champs to keep up their stellar performance and aim even higher. The specific significance of a medal often shines through its design, which embodies the designer’s vision. Take, for instance, the 2008 Olympic medals. These beauties featured an inlay of ancient jade on the back, a departure from previous Olympic medals and a move that garnered international acclaim. It’s like each medal is saying, “You did awesome, and here’s a little piece of art to prove it!”
B. The importance of medal diversity
Why are there so many types of medals?
Medals generally differ in design, craftsmanship, material, plating, etc.
design
For the winners, medals with different designs will make the contestants feel more valued by the organizers. Medals that are different from ordinary medals will bring more freshness to the participants. If the medals for each competition are of different designs, then each time the contestants may participate because they hope to get different medals, and even the contestants may develop a hobby of collecting. At that time, every medal is a story, and the contestants give each medal its own story.
For the organizers, every sharing between contestants, ingenious design, and combination with technology and other technologies will be an important opportunity for brand exposure, which will increase brand influence, number of contestants, etc. get promoted.
Craftsmanship
Generally, medals can use a lot of techniques, and some techniques can also be used in combination to produce different visual effects.
For detailed process introduction, please see this article
Material
Generally speaking, there are fewer choices of materials. Zinc alloy, copper, iron, stainless iron, and aluminum are the most commonly used.
Among them, zinc alloy material has become the most popular material because of its good fluidity, low cost, not easy to rust, and easier to manufacture medals with rich details. In this article, there is a detailed description of the various craftsmanship of medals.
plating
This article will mainly discuss the impact of electroplating on medals in the following content.
II. Plating color of medals
A. Common plating colors and their symbolic meanings
Nickel color plating
In all competitions, nickel plating is the most widely used. It will make the uncolored part of the medal adhere to a layer of nickel color. Nickel plating is divided into bright nickel color and dark nickel color in terms of technology. Nickel plating has high stability in the air. It can form a film on the surface to resist certain corrosion and also has a bright effect. In the awards ceremony, nickel-plated medals were also awarded to the winners as silver medals.
Imitation gold plating
Imitation gold plating medals are generally awarded to winners as gold medals in competitions. Imitation gold plating has bright colors and high brightness, while real gold plating is darker in color and relatively cheap. Therefore, the best plating color for gold medals should be golden plating.
Copper plating
The copper plating is generally used as a bronze medal
Single color plating
If your event has its own main color, you can hang this color as the main color of your medal. This will perfectly fit your event style and be different from other events to highlight the uniqueness of the event.
Color plating
Color plating refers to electroplating medals into colors, so that the medals appear bright, bright, and uniform rainbow colors. This plating color fits the rainbow run perfectly.
Among them, imitation gold, nickel, copper, and other colors can be electroplated into matte or antique colors.
B. The development history of electroplating technology
Electroplating is a surface technology used to decorate, protect, and obtain certain properties on the surface of objects.
The silver plating process was first proposed by Professor Brug Natelli in Italy in 1800, and the gold plating process was proposed five years later.
In 1840, the British scholar Elkington obtained the first patent for cyanide silver plating and applied it in industrial production. This was the first practical application of electroplating technology in industry. Subsequently, the electroplating technology gradually developed and improved, and the electroplating color has been There are more than 250 types, of which only more than 30 are used in actual production.
After 1989, people gradually became aware of the problem of environmental pollution. The Industrial and Environmental Planning Center of the United Nations Environment Program proposed the concept of “clean production”. Starting in the 1970s, China began to adopt more environmentally friendly electroplating technology, making great contributions to improving the environment. s hard work.
C. Factors affecting plating selection (such as culture, event type, etc.)
On different occasions, medals use different colors of plating. For example, gold, silver, and copper are the most widely used in competitions, but this does not mean that these three colors are the most suitable.
For example, color plating may be more suitable for rainbow running, and nickel plating may be more suitable for marathons or competitions that do not require ranking.
III. Medal design trends in events
A. Medal design for Olympic Games and international sports events
The Olympic medal design will be subject to the unified requirements of the International Olympic Committee, that is, the front of the medal will be unified into the standing goddess of victory and the panoramic image of the Panathinaiko Arena in Greece.
The design of medals in marathon races with a large number of participants also requires unified design elements. For example, the unified element of the New York Marathon is the image of the goddess of victory holding a torch.
B. The difference between professional and amateur sports events
1. Professional sports events generally have remuneration and related incentives, while amateur events generally do not reward athletes for their outstanding performance.
2. Professional sports events will design medals based on the venue or a special meaning. Professional sports events generally include specific brand logos, sponsor logos, and elements that can reflect the uniqueness of the event. These elements can often Make the medal more exquisite and symbolic. Amateur sports event medals are relatively simple, focusing on commemoration and participation, but not on commercial value and brand exposure. Therefore, professional sports events generally choose customized medals, while amateur events choose public template medals.
As a professional medal manufacturer, we provide customers with a variety of solutions, there must be a solution that suits you. For professional sports events, we will provide you with cutting-edge design concepts that will dazzle your competitors. For business events, we provide light customization services. You can use UV, laser, and other technologies on public templates to put your logo, design, etc. into the medals. On the one hand, it can reduce your costs, and on the other hand, it can also make your event like a professional sports event, with unique medals to increase your brand exposure.
C. The impact of cultural and regional differences on medal design
1. Cultural logos: Medal designs from different regions often incorporate local cultural symbols and elements, such as religious patterns, historical figures, landmark buildings, etc.
2. Color: In different cultures, people’s choice of colors will be different. Therefore, for the organizer, this will affect the color selection and matching of medals.
3. Material selection: In some areas, people may prefer renewable resources to make medals, such as wood, which is currently widely used. In other areas zinc alloys are used that are rich in detail and relatively low cost.
4. Text content: In the design of medals, language text is also very important. If the medal contains local language or specific slogans or meanings, it will definitely be more popular with local contestants.
D. Evolution of design trends and modern case analysis
Contemporary metal designs are gradually becoming more complex. For example, virtual running medals are a typical example. Most virtual running medals use a variety of techniques. They can use beautiful medals to attract users to participate in competitions.
Medals can be combined with many types of products, such as medals and badges, bracelets, keychains, dog tags, and other products, or they can be combined with technology, such as QR codes, NFC chips, etc.
For example, this virtual running medal
3D, printing, magnet badges, baking paint, bronze, and other processes are used. The process is very complicated and difficult.
IV. Material diversity of medals
A. The use and significance of traditional materials (gold, silver, copper)
If pure gold or silver is used to make medals, the price of the medal will be very high. Therefore, copper is mostly used in medal production, but copper can generally only make medals with fewer details. In the production of medals, gold, silver, and copper have more symbolic meanings, so most competitions choose to use electroplating colors so that the medals have the colors of gold, silver, and copper.
B. Innovative applications of non-traditional materials (such as plastics, wood, recycled materials, etc.)
In addition to traditional metal materials, PVC, wood, recycled materials, and other materials are now increasingly widely used. Nowadays, PVC medals are gradually used in children’s competitions. This material can be child-friendly, non-toxic, and have other advantages.
Wooden medals are often used in competitions that emphasize environmental protection, and sustainable development or have specific cultural themes. For example, some small local events, community sports activities, and events that value environmental protection, such as certain marathons, hiking events, or nature adventure competitions, may choose to use wooden medals.
Recycled materials are generally parts of electronic products or industrial waste to make medals. This method is both innovative and environmentally friendly. For example, approximately 5,000 gold medals for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be made of precious metals recycled from discarded electronic waste.
The impact of material selection on the value and sustainability of medals
Sense of value: Different materials have different values for the recipients. In the traditional sense, medals made of gold, silver, copper, and other metals are usually considered to be the most valuable because these materials themselves are precious metals. For formal occasions, metal materials are used to make medals.
Sustainability: Medals made from renewable or environmentally friendly materials (wood, recycled plastics, biodegradable materials, etc.) may have a lower sense of value in the traditional sense, but they represent environmental and social sustainable development. A commitment that is also more suitable for competitions that many children participate in.
C. The rise of personalization and customization
In recent years, medal personalization and customization have increasingly become a trend in the medal manufacturing industry. More and more event organizers have paid attention to expanding their brand influence, but traditional industry-wide medals cannot meet this requirement.
So more event organizers came to us and asked to customize medals for their own events. These medals need to be in line with the culture and theme of their events, they need to be sufficiently attractive to participants, and the quality of the medals needs to be very good.
Fortunately, we have had some problems in the process of producing customized medals for 17 years (we admit that we are not perfect, but we have the courage to admit the problems and actively correct them, which is also an important reason why our customers continue to choose us), but we actively transform and sum up experience, which also makes our customers willing to introduce their friends to us.
We are also continuing to propose our business solutions to our customers to help them expand their influence (this is the right thing I think we do), so that everyone’s business can grow together.
VII. Conclusion
A. The socio-cultural significance of medal type diversity
1. Cultural reflection: Different medals are a true reflection of cultural diversity. They can show the uniqueness of a specific community, country, or culture.
2. Artistic expression: A variety of medal designs allow artists and designers to express their creativity, making medals become works of art rather than just symbols of victory.
3. Commemorative significance: Personalized or themed medals enhance commemoration. These medals have very special commemorative significance for specific events, achievements, or anniversaries.
4. Sustainability and social responsibility: Medals that use environmentally friendly or sustainable materials are an effort to protect the earth. These medals are witnesses of their commitment and call for society’s attention to environmental protection.
B. Possible directions for future medal design
In the future, medal design may develop in the following directions:
1. Sustainability and environmental protection: As global attention on environmental protection issues intensifies, sustainable materials and eco-friendly materials will be more favored.
2. Technology integration: Using advanced technologies, such as 3D printing, smart chip integration, etc., the development of these high-tech technologies may drive further development of the medal industry.
3. Personalization and customization: As the world develops, more and more groups or individuals will pay more attention to custom-designed medals.
4. Artistic and cultural expression: Medals may one day become a work of art like oil paintings and other works. The design of each medal is the result of the designer’s dedicated design.
5. Interactivity and experience: With the development of AR or VR technology, perhaps one day the design of medals will be combined with these technologies to enhance participants’ sense of immersion.
