How to Create a Custom Award: Understanding the Difference Between Custom and Personalized Awards

Jul 10, 2024
When it comes to recognizing achievements, many people search for ways to create a custom award. However, there's often confusion between truly custom awards and personalized awards. At Olive Branch Awards, we're here to clarify this distinction and help you find the perfect solution for your recognition needs.

Understanding Custom vs. Personalized Awards

Custom Awards:
- Designed from scratch
- Unique materials and shapes
- Often requires specialized manufacturing
- Typically involves longer production times
- Generally more expensive

Personalized Awards:
- Based on pre-existing designs
- Customized with specific text, names, dates, or logos
- Quicker to produce
- More cost-effective
- Still highly meaningful and unique

What Most People Actually Need

In many cases, when people think they want to create a custom award, what they're really looking for is a high-quality personalized award. This confusion is understandable, as the term "custom" is often used broadly in everyday language.

How to Create a Personalized Award with Olive Branch

At OliveBranchAwards.com, we specialize in personalized awards that offer a perfect balance of uniqueness and efficiency. Here's how you can create your own:

1. Choose a Base Design: Select from our wide range of high-quality award styles.
2. Add Your Personal Touch: Customize the award with names, dates, achievements, and logos.
3. Preview Your Creation: See exactly how your award will look before ordering.
4. Place Your Order: Enjoy our streamlined process and quick turnaround times.

Why Personalized Awards Often Meet Your Needs Better

1. Cost-Effective: Personalized awards are significantly more affordable than fully custom designs.
2. Quicker Turnaround: Get your awards faster, perfect for tight deadlines.
3. Proven Designs: Our pre-existing designs are tested for aesthetic appeal and quality.
4. Consistency: Great for recurring events or multiple recipients.
5. Still Unique: Each personalized award is one-of-a-kind with your specific details.

When You Might Need a Truly Custom Award

While personalized awards suit most needs, there are situations where a fully custom award might be necessary:
- Representing a very specific concept or design
- Creating a signature award for a high-profile event
- Needing a unique shape or material not available in standard options

The Future of Custom Awards at Olive Branch

We understand that some situations call for fully custom awards. That's why we're excited to announce that we're working on adding custom award design services to our offerings. This will allow us to cater to all your award needs, from personalized to fully custom designs.

Conclusion: Making the Right Choice

When you're looking to create a custom award, it's important to consider whether you need a fully custom design or a high-quality personalized award. For most recognition needs, a personalized award from Olive Branch Awards offers the perfect blend of uniqueness, quality, and efficiency.

Ready to create your personalized award? Visit OliveBranchAwards.com today and experience how easy it is to design a meaningful, personalized recognition piece. Whether you're honoring an employee, a team, or a special achievement, we have the perfect solution to make your recognition truly special.

Remember, the goal of any award is to show appreciation and recognition. With Olive Branch Awards, you can create a personalized award that captures the essence of your appreciation without the complexity and cost of a fully custom design.