2018 Commonwealth Games Medal Boxes

Potato Press is a Gold Coast based design company that specialises in creating unique and memorable products across a wide range of industries. So, when the Commonwealth Games Committee approached us to discuss designing the medal boxes for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, our team unsurprisingly jumped at the opportunity to be a part of this historic event.

Taking place every four years, the Commonwealth Games took place on the Gold Coast shores from the 4th to the 15th of April 2018. The multi-sport event invited members of the Commonwealth to compete, with more than 4,400 athletes, including 300 para-athletes, from 71 Commonwealth Games Associations, taking part. Potato Press were honoured to be able to contribute to this piece of Gold Coast history.

The design and construction

The design and construction of the medal boxes was no easy feat. 1,600 individual pieces were required, and it took a great deal of work and coordination to ensure they were all uniform and finished to the highest standard. At Potato Press we pride ourselves on thinking outside the box and wanted to create something nostalgic that could be treasured for many years to come. We wanted athletes to take something home that paid testament to all the hard work they had put into winning the medals contained within.

The finished products were made from Australian Blackbutt timber, with every piece hand finished, taking up to 2-3 days to complete. The laser cut boxes resembled a stylised version of the sand and waves that line the iconic Gold Coast shore. Looking down through the cut outs to the medal within, invoked the feeling of looking through the water to the seabed. With the ocean forming such an important part of the Gold Coast experience, it made perfect sense to incorporate these features into the design.

An exciting project for our entire team!

“To know that the fastest man or woman at the Commonwealth Games, or some of the 4,400 athletes competing are going to be taking these pieces all across the world is phenomenal.”

The internal timber facia was inscribed with the three driving words behind the 2018 Commonwealth Games: Humanity. Equality. Destiny. Our team were enamoured by the embodiment of this message across the event, and the hardworking crew who worked on the medal boxes look forward to contributing to the rich and thriving culture of the Gold Coast through more innovative and exciting projects.

Got a project you’d love to see come to life? Contact our team today!