What Design Awards does

Design Awards is an Australian privately held bespoke trophy and award manufacturer, founded in 1994 and operating from two workshops in Sydney and Melbourne with a small team of approximately 11 designers and artisan makers. The company designs and handcrafts custom trophies, medals, plaques, and perpetual awards, including specialized sub-brands such as the Legacy Collection, Arthouse Collection, and Quartz Collection, with materials spanning acrylic, brass and bronze, crystal and glass, metal, and sustainable/recycled options. Production combines traditional artisan techniques (hand casting, precision engraving) with modern 3D printing for certain intricate designs, and the company uses sustainable and salvaged timber inputs to address environmentally conscious buyers.

The business operates a sales-led, consultative go-to-market: clients initiate engagement via website quote requests, phone (Sydney and Melbourne lines), or in-person workshop visits, then move through a design consultation, mock-up approval, and production cycle. Revenue is generated entirely through one-time custom manufacturing projects, with pricing determined per quote based on design complexity, materials, size, engraving requirements, and quantity; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The customer base is enterprise-diversified across automotive OEMs (Toyota, Audi, Tesla, Volkswagen, Lexus, Subaru, Hino, Chery, Genesis), sports leagues and clubs (NRL, AFL, Rugby Australia, Australian Olympic Committee, Sydney Marathon), banks and financial institutions (Macquarie, HSBC, Commonwealth Bank, ASX), technology firms (Google, TikTok), telecommunications (Telstra, Vodafone), and government bodies (NSW Premier's Awards, Defence Australia). The company also ships internationally via trusted couriers, extending beyond its domestic Australian footprint to a worldwide client base.

Name

Design Awards

Legal name

Design Awards

Website

https://designawards.net.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Design Awards is an Australian bespoke trophy and award manufacturer founded in 1994, operating artisan workshops in Sydney and Melbourne. It serves enterprise, sports, government, and education clients with handcrafted custom awards, medals, and plaques, shipping internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Awards & Trophies Manufacturing

NAICS

Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing (33991), Metal Coating, Engraving (except Jewelry and Silverware), and Allied Services to Manufacturers (332812)

SIC

Jewelry, Silverware & Plated Ware (3910), Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Branded Merchandise & Corporate Gifts (BPAFAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Engraving, Laser Marking & Personalization (Production) (CRAKAIAH), Personalized & Custom Gift Creation (Engraving/Monogramming/Photo Gifts) (HSACANAC)

Keywords

• Custom trophies
• Bespoke awards
• Handcrafted medals
• Commemorative plaques
• Corporate recognition

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Award Manufacturing: One-time custom manufacturing of bespoke trophies, awards, medals, and plaques. Each piece is individually crafted to client specifications with full personalization options including size, shape, engraving, materials, and finishes. Revenue is project-based with pricing determined by complexity, materials, and quantity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Design Awards designs and handcrafts bespoke trophies, awards, medals, and plaques from its workshops in Sydney and Melbourne. The company creates custom recognition pieces in materials including acrylic, brass and bronze, crystal and glass, metal, and sustainable/recycled options, with full personalisation across size, shape, engraving, materials, and finishes. Services span corporate recognition, sports trophies, perpetual awards, deal toys, and commemorative plaques, with international shipping available.

Product overview

Design Awards is a bespoke trophy and award manufacturing company offering handcrafted custom awards, trophies, medals, and plaques. The product portfolio centers on custom trophy and award creation with a House Collection comprising sub-brands (Legacy Collection, Arthouse Collection, Quartz Collection), alongside bespoke/custom offerings across multiple categories including Custom Trophies (Handmade and 3D Printed), Custom Medals, Custom Plaques (Acknowledgement of Country, Memorial, Commemorative & Ceremonial), Perpetual Awards, Corporate Awards (including Deal Toys & Tombstones and Employee Recognition), Sports Trophies & Medals, and Ice Stamps. Products are available in various materials including Acrylic, Brass & Bronze, Crystal & Glass, Metal, and Sustainable/Recycled options. The company operates workshops in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, with international shipping capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Quartz Collection: Refined, environmentally-conscious and customisable trophy collection; newest addition to the House Collection.
• House Collection
• Legacy Collection
• Arthouse Collection

Products and services

• Custom Trophies Bespoke trophies handcrafted by artisan makers in Sydney and Melbourne workshops, available in materials including metal, acrylic, brass and bronze, crystal and glass, and sustainable options, with full personalisation of size, shape, engraving, and finish.
• Custom Medals
• Custom Plaques
• Perpetual Awards
• Corporate Awards
• Sports Trophies & Medals
• Deal Toys & Tombstones
• Employee Recognition Awards
• Bespoke Awards
• Ice Stamps

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 years of experience delivering awards to some of the country's biggest nights

Named customers40 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Edco Awards: Australian manufacturer and retailer of trophies, medals, awards, and plaques operating domestically. Directly comparable as another Australian bespoke-to-standard award maker competing for the same sports, corporate, and government customer base.
• Trophyland: Australian trophy and awards retailer offering a broad catalog of trophies, medals, and plaques with custom engraving. Comparable as a domestic competitor in the same product category, though more standardized and less bespoke than Design Awards.
• Recognition Express: Australian franchise network specializing in branded merchandise, trophies, awards, and corporate recognition products. Comparable as a competing domestic supplier of custom corporate awards and recognition items to enterprise clients.
• Crystal Galleries: International manufacturer and supplier of crystal and glass awards and trophies. Comparable as a premium supplier of glass/crystal-based recognition items competing for similar corporate and ceremonial buyers.
• Cast Awards Australia: Australian cast metal trophy and award manufacturer producing bespoke and standardized recognition pieces. Comparable as a domestic artisan manufacturer focused on cast metal awards, overlapping on material capability and customer segments.
• Awards International: UK-based bespoke trophy and award manufacturer producing custom recognition items for corporate, sporting, and ceremonial clients. Comparable in product offering, customer segments, and bespoke manufacturing model.
• Signet Awards: Australian supplier of trophies, awards, and recognition products serving corporate and sporting clients. Directly comparable in product range, geography, and customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Jostens: US-based large manufacturer of recognition products including class rings, yearbooks, and championship rings/trophies. Comparable as a broad incumbent in awards and ceremonial recognition, though it focuses more on scholastic and championship markets than bespoke corporate awards.
• Crown Trophy: Largest franchise network of trophy and award stores in North America, offering trophies, plaques, medals, and recognition items. Comparable as a scaled award manufacturer with broader reach, though it leans more standardized and less artisan/bespoke than Design Awards.

Emerging players

• Inscripture: Online platform for personalized engraved gifts, awards, and recognition products. Comparable as an emerging player in the personalized/engraved recognition space, though it operates more digitally and at lower price points than Design Awards' artisan workshop model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/design-awards
• Instagraminstagram.com/design_awards
• Pinterestpinterest.com/design_awards

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Design Awards