Laser Etching & Router Cutting

The Coast-to-Coast race day is an annual event traditionally held at Aquis Park, but was staged at the Sunshine Coast Turb Club due to a $63 million redevelopment underway at the Gold Coast Turf Club. The Coast-to-Coast race day is comprised of multiple races of varying distances and prizes, all including a quality line-up of horses.

We were contacted to create a refreshed, luxurious trophy suite for the 2023 event, to coincide with the renaming of the event. We created a trophy for the winning owner, trainer and jockey of each race. For the top tier race, the $500,000 Group 2 TAB A.D Hollindale Stakes, we created a more opulent version of the trophy to emulate the prestigious nature of the race.

As this event was to be held on the Sunshine Coast as opposed to the usual Gold Coast grounds, We selected a whitewashed natural Australian timber for the main body of the awards instead of the usual natural timber finish. We adorned the awards with an intricate floral detail that was laser cut to reveal gold detailing underneath. The top of the trophy included a laser cut timber horse motif and the text and logo were laser etched onto the body of the trophy.

To add a layer of luxury to the prestigious TAB A.D Hollindale Stakes race, we elected a different laser cut floral pattern to differentiate between the awards.

We loved creating this custom trophy! Contact us today to get started on your next project.

Photos courtesy of Gold Coast Turf Club Facebook page.

Moomba Masters is an annual competition, presented by the Victorian Water Ski Association and is held on the Yarra River, Melbourne. It is comprised of various disciplines of water-skiing activities, with competitors skiing exclusively behind Nautique boats.

We were contacted to create these custom awards for each category of the different events held over the course of the 6-day competition. Although we created a different design for the junior and adult categories, we wanted to ensure both trophies tied in together by using the same design elements and materials across both.

For the junior categories, we used a natural timber block for the body of the trophy, varying the size for the different placings. The text was laser etched on to the font and sides of the awards, with the logo printed on a piece of acrylic which was then layered on another white piece of acrylic. The acrylic was then laser cut to show first, second and third place, which created a sense of depth and draws the eye to the circle in the centre.

We wanted to elevate the awards for the adult categories, whilst still incorporating similar design elements to keep the awards cohesive. We used a combination of clear and white acrylic layers to build up the body of the award, with Australian timber selected for the front and back of the trophy. The centre of the award was left clear to give the logo a floating effect. The timber was laser cut to show the Victorian Water Ski Association logo, which was UV printed on the white acrylic layer behind. The categories were then laser etched on to the front timber, with silver finishing screws used to tie the design together.

We loved creating these unique trophies! Contact us today to get started on your next custom project.

Photos courtesy of the Moomba Masters Facebook Page.

The True Zero Carbon Challenge is a competition developed by Design Matters National. Entrants are required to design sustainable housing that adheres to a strict brief, with the aim of the home to pay back its carbon debt by 2050.

We were contacted by the team at design matters to create a distinctive and sustainable award using natural materials that reflected the outcomes of the challenge.

This award was created using recycled hardwood fence posts originally sourced from a farm in northern New South Wales. The posts are very weathered and have all their original characteristics including holes from the fence wire and nail holes throughout the blocks.  The timber which was left very much in its natural state was perfect for this design brief as it reflects the essence of the challenge. No two blocks were the same which created a bespoke and memorable experience.

The text and logo were then etched onto the block, with an additional silver acrylic logo added to the front of the award, which created a focal piece.

We loved created this custom award! Contact us today to create your next custom project!

Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=553786783452110&set=pb.100064623792470.-2207520000.&type=3

The Smith Family Challenge is an off-road experience that is held over 2 days. The teams navigate over a variety of terrains, switching between foot, bike and water to cross the finish line. 100% of the proceeds of the entry cost are donated to children in need.

The trophy was created as a memorial for Nick Vasudeva, one of the victims of a tragic helicopter crash in Mount Disappointment, Victoria in April 2022. Nick was a competitor in the Smith Family Challenge in previous years.

We were contacted to create a trophy for the challenge to encompass the environment in which the challenge was held.

We used a light, natural timber and a combination of laser etching and UV printing for the event details and company logo. The map of the challenge was divided across multiple timber layers to create an intriguing sense of depth. Sections were then pre-cut from the back of the trophy, allowing space for silver acrylic rectangles to be added later.

We loved creating this unique and memorable trophy for the Smith Family in honour of Nick Vasudeva.

Contact us today to get started on your next custom trophy project!

The Australian Bodysurfing Classic is an annual event that attracts over 140 global competitors and is New South Wales biggest surfing event. The event is held to promote the sport of bodysurfing, uniting the community and promoting inclusivity.

We were tasked with creating a new trophy to encompass the essence of the event. Using natural timbers and colours true to that of the Australian beach environment.

We created this unique, surfboard shaped trophy using natural Australian timber and layers of blue acrylic in varying shades. An oceanic texture was UV printed behind the blue acrylic layers to achieve a sense of depth, much like that of the ocean. A silver layer of acrylic accents the inside of the surfboard, drawing attention to the brands logo. The competition details were then etched onto the base of the trophy, with sections pre-cut from the back of the trophy, allowing space for the gold acrylic rectangles to be added later. This was a great way to increase the longevity of the trophy, as the gold acrylic rectangles can be etched and added in as required.

We loved creating this fun and unique trophy!

Contact us today to get started creating your next custom award.

Design Matters is a prominent and experienced company for Building Designers and industry professionals. Members are supported via government advocacy programs, education, mentoring and networking. They share a passion for sustainability and better design. Design Matters reached out to us in need of a custom award that features elements used in building processes.

Our design team utilised a concrete base feature in conjunction with hand veneered native timber. It was then embellished this with laser etching, gold acrylic details and printed text. This trophy highlights the Design Matters aim to maintain quality building design with the highest professional and ethical standards.

We enjoyed researching and experimenting with concrete elements to find the perfect design solution for this award. Contact us today to discuss your next design solution.