Wood — natural beauty
Wood brings warmth and a distinct natural character to custom awards. While its "living" nature presents unique challenges, our expertise ensures stunning, durable designs.
Wood is a material unlike any other, prized for its inherent warmth, rich textures, and unique grain patterns. As a living material, wood's structure can subtly shift over time, a characteristic that demands careful consideration in award design. Despite this complexity, our extensive experience in crafting awards that blend diverse materials allows us to expertly integrate wood into our production. We frequently use wood for award bases and complementary elements, and our portfolio also features elegant awards made entirely from wood. This understanding allows us to harness wood's natural beauty, ensuring each piece is not only visually striking but also built to last. From the deep hues of walnut to the lighter tones of maple, wood offers a versatile palette for creating awards that feel substantial and convey genuine appreciation.
Solid wood
*Pure, unadulterated timber*
Solid wood awards are crafted from a single, continuous piece of timber, showcasing the purest form of the material. This method highlights the wood's natural grain, color variations, and inherent character, offering an authentic, organic aesthetic that is unmatched. The primary advantage is its genuine, tactile feel and classic appeal. However, solid wood is susceptible to subtle changes like warping or cracking as it ages and dries, especially with significant shifts in humidity. Crafting very large or intricate shapes from a single block can also be challenging, sometimes requiring careful joinery of smaller pieces. Choose solid wood when a truly natural, premium feel is paramount, and you appreciate its unique, evolving character.
Veneered wood
*Stable beauty, expanded options*
Veneered wood offers the sophisticated look of solid timber with enhanced stability. It consists of a thin layer of real wood (the veneer) applied over a stable substrate, typically a furniture-grade board. This construction largely eliminates the risk of warping or cracking often associated with solid wood, making it a reliable choice for awards that need to maintain their precise form over time. Veneers also open up a wider world of design possibilities, providing access to exotic wood species and intricate grain patterns that might be cost-prohibitive or structurally challenging in solid form. It's an excellent option for achieving a high-end aesthetic with greater consistency and a broader range of finishes.
Plywood
*Strong, versatile, and precise*
Plywood is engineered from multiple thin layers of wood, or "plies," glued together with their grain alternating directions. This cross-graining technique gives plywood exceptional strength and stability for its thickness, making it remarkably resistant to splitting, shrinking, or warping. We often incorporate plywood as flat, decorative elements or intricate accents in our awards. Its uniform composition makes it an ideal candidate for precision work with a CO2 laser, allowing us to cut highly complex shapes and detailed designs. Plywood also takes engraving beautifully, producing crisp, visually appealing results that add another layer of customization and sophistication to an award.
6 pieces from wood in the gallery.
Real commissions using this material. Click through to see materials, dimensions, and engraving details per piece.
Working with wood.
Why is wood considered a "living" material in award manufacturing?
Wood is organic and naturally responsive to its environment. Factors like humidity and temperature can cause it to expand, contract, or subtly shift over time. This characteristic, while part of its charm, requires specialized knowledge in design and manufacturing to ensure the award remains stable and beautiful for years to come. Our experience helps mitigate these natural tendencies.
What are the main differences between solid wood and veneered wood for awards?
Solid wood is a single, continuous piece, offering an authentic, rustic feel but with a higher potential for natural movement. Veneered wood uses a thin layer of real wood over a stable core, providing a consistent look with less risk of warping. Veneer also allows for a wider selection of exotic wood finishes and can be more cost-effective for larger pieces.
Can wood awards be customized with engraving or other techniques?
Absolutely. Wood is highly versatile for customization. Laser engraving is particularly effective on plywood and some solid woods, creating sharp, detailed designs. We can also incorporate color fills, metal inlays, or combine wood with other materials like acrylic or metal to create truly unique and personalized awards that reflect your specific vision.
What kind of lead time should I expect for wood awards?
Lead times for wood awards can vary based on the complexity of the design, the specific type of wood chosen, and the customization techniques involved. Generally, simpler designs using readily available wood types might have a shorter turnaround, while intricate, multi-material pieces or those requiring exotic veneers could take longer. We'll provide a clear timeline with your quote.
Ready to brief a piece in wood?
Tell us the moment, send your brand assets, and we'll respond with two material directions in two working days.