Acrylic Awards Trends: What's Popular Right Now

Clear acrylic still sells the most. But the orders coming across our desk have shifted over the past couple of years. Buyers want more color, more shape, and more of their logo printed right into the piece. Here's what we're seeing more of, and how to decide what fits your event.

First, a quick reminder of why acrylic keeps showing up at recognition events. Acrylic awards are a clear, lightweight plastic. They look a lot like crystal but cost less and resist drops that would chip glass. That mix of looks and price is why so many companies pick them.

Full-Color Logos Printed Right In

This is the biggest change we hear about. More buyers ask whether we can print their logo in full color, not just engrave it. We can. UV printing puts brand colors, gradients, and detailed artwork straight onto the acrylic, and laser engraving handles the crisp text and crest work. Many of the pieces we ship now use both on the same award.

Why the shift? People want the award to match their brand, not just say a name. A printed logo in your exact colors does that. Engraving alone can't.

Color Instead of Plain Clear

Clear acrylic is timeless, and plenty of buyers still want it. But we see steady interest in colored acrylic awards too. Tinted bases, blue and amber tones, and color that fades across the piece all show up in recent orders. A pop of color reads well in photos, which matters when the award ends up on social media after the event.

Custom Shapes Tied to the Brand

Standard rectangles and obelisks are easy and cheap. They'll always have a place. Still, more companies ask us to cut a shape that means something to them: a state outline, a product silhouette, a logo turned into the award itself. See our guide to custom acrylic award shapes if you're weighing that route. A custom shape costs more and takes longer, so it's worth it for a flagship award, less so for a stack of 50 service pins.

Layered and Mixed-Material Designs

Stacking panels of acrylic adds depth, and pairing acrylic with wood or metal accents gives a piece more weight, both literally and visually. These cost more to make, but they photograph beautifully and feel substantial in the hand. Good fit for a top honor. Probably overkill for a quarterly shout-out.

Minimalist, Clean Designs

On the other end, a lot of buyers want the opposite of busy. Simple geometric shapes, a frosted finish, one line of engraving on a black or wood base. Minimal designs age well and don't fight with whatever else sits on a winner's shelf. They're also usually the most affordable to produce.

Sustainability Questions

More buyers ask about the environmental side now than they did a few years ago. We answer those questions straight in our piece on acrylic awards and sustainability. The short version: acrylic is a durable plastic that lasts for years, and a recognition award that gets kept and displayed isn't a throwaway item.

Budget-Conscious Buying

Recognition budgets are tight, and it shows in the orders. People want something that looks great without overspending. A few ways buyers keep the cost down on affordable acrylic awards:

• Pick a clean, standard shape and let the engraving do the work
• Stick with a smaller desk-sized piece
• Order in bulk so one setup covers the whole batch

Why Buy Your Acrylic Awards From Us

We've made awards for 40 years, since 1985, at our manufacturing locations nationwide. Engraving is free. So is logo setup. Every order is backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee and our lowest price guarantee, so you can chase the trend you like without paying a premium for it.

Not sure which direction fits your event? Browse our acrylic awards and pick the one that looks right. We'll handle the rest.

Acrylic Award Trends FAQ

What acrylic award trend is most popular right now?

Clear acrylic still sells the most. The fastest-growing request is a full-color logo printed right into the piece. We use UV printing for brand colors, gradients, and detailed artwork, then laser engraving for crisp text. Many awards we ship now use both on the same piece.

Will clear acrylic stay relevant?

Yes. Clear acrylic is timeless, and plenty of buyers still want it. Color is growing alongside it, not replacing it. Tinted bases and fade effects read well in photos, which matters when an award ends up on social media after the event. See our guide to acrylic award shapes and design for ways to mix clear and color.

Are mixed-material acrylic awards worth it?

For a top honor, often yes. Pairing acrylic with wood or metal accents, or stacking acrylic panels for depth, gives a piece more weight and photographs beautifully. These cost more to make, so they fit a flagship award better than a quarterly shout-out.

Are buyers asking about eco-friendly acrylic awards?

More than they did a few years ago. Acrylic is a durable plastic that lasts for years, and a recognition award that gets kept and displayed isn't a throwaway item. We cover this in detail in our piece on eco-friendly acrylic awards.

How do I pick a trend without overspending?

Pick a clean, standard shape and let the engraving do the work, stick with a smaller desk-sized piece, and order in bulk so one setup covers the whole batch. Browse our acrylic awards to compare options. Engraving and logo setup are free, and every order is backed by our lowest price guarantee.