What goes into crafting a one-of-a-kind trophy for an upcoming event? At Visions Awards, the Ohio-based awards and recognition supplier has been able to mix unusual, unique materials with thoughtful designs for over 24 years. Their trophies are works of art, capturing the essence of the client down to every detail. In this Q&A, we spoke with the awards supplier to learn about their humble beginnings, what goes into making one of their trophies, and what we can expect from them in 2025.
The Folio: Let’s start with some background about Visions. How did the company begin crafting awards?
Visions Awards: It started with one of Visions’ original owners, Tom Meyer, who had a keen eye for design. One day he was holding an unusual-looking candlestick and thought it would make a beautiful award. From that moment on, he began designing awards in his garage. Today, our conference room inside our U.S. facility is a garage, with a clear garage door that opens and closes just like a real garage door.
The Folio: When people think of awards and recognition, they think of traditional or crystal trophies. What types of awards do you offer clients?
Visions: While we have an extensive and beautiful line of optical crystal designs, all of which are made of K9 optical crystal, we are known for our ability to use unusual materials and combine them in a unique way that yields designs that look like works of art. Hence our tagline, The Art of Recognition. Our line ranges from freestanding awards to plaques to desk accessories, and a collection of unique promotional products, including those from retail brands. Many of our awards also lend themselves to being used for marketing/brand awareness purposes.
The Folio: Can you walk us through the process of creating your one-of-a-kind awards?
Visions: The process really starts with our designers. They continue to push the limits to create new, trend-setting awards. Our goal is to make sure employees and clients are recognized with top-of-the-line awards that properly align with the milestones achieved. Our designers are inspired by what is trending at retail and in general (for example sustainability and USA Made) and develop designs that not only incorporate those trends but have the Visions’ “look.” The results are awards that are so unique, that most think they are custom, but they are stock and feature unique materials such as cork, wool, and concrete, to name a few. We also look at what we feel would appeal to today’s workforce and what we think will algin with their tastes and value.
When it comes to creating a completely custom award, it begins with the customer’s vision. Our account specialists and designers collaborate closely with the distributor to gather vital details to get the design right the first time. This includes establishing a budget, determining event deadlines, obtaining brand guidelines, and specifying any preferred materials. From there, the real magic unfolds. Our talented design team examines the information provided to create a one-of-a-kind piece that perfectly aligns with the customer’s request. Additionally, at the distributor’s request, we will gladly have a joint meeting with the distributor and end-user to further streamline the design process.
The Folio: I want to talk about the project you’re currently working on with Facilisgroup. Can you share how you started incorporating unique materials like Walnut into your award designs? We’d love to showcase your distinctive approach to material design, especially since not many suppliers offer this level of customization using natural, elemental materials.
Visions: At Visions, we are all about incorporating unique materials into our designs. This award we are doing for Facilisgroup is part of our Elements Collection that allows distributors, and even their end-users, to design their own custom award using our state-of-the-art Award Lab technology directly from our website. To customize the award, they can add an “Element” such as a Year (as is the case with this award), a star, a number for a Years of Service, and more. They can also choose a variety of materials, including walnut, bamboo, ebony wood, and stainless steel.
The Folio: Visions has been dedicated to the Art of Recognition for over 30 years. Are there any awards that stood out to the company over the years?
Visions: We’ve produced a slew of awards over the years. A few that come to mind include: Pulsar, Cubed, Versatile Perpetual, Slate Ace, Silver Mountain, Fascination plaque, Bent Steel
The Folio: What are the dos and don’ts of creating a memorable award?
Visions: A “do” is to create something that either looks like something one would see in a nice retail store or is so unique that it makes a great conversation piece. Another “do” is to design pieces that when received, the recipient feels it is fitting of the milestone(s) achieved. A “don’t” is to put something in the line that we would not want to have ourselves.
The Folio: What can we expect from Visions in 2025?
Visions: We have a lot in store for 2025 at Visions Awards. Here’s just a sneak peek into what’s in store for us.
We’re excited to see the breath-taking awards Visions Awards creates this year, but for now check out their website to find the perfect trophy for your client’s upcoming gala, anniversary, and other events.