Recent Projects

2018 Commonwealth Games Medal Boxes

Posted: 16th May 2018

Posted in: Design & Illustration, Laser Etching & Router Cutting, Custom Awards & Event Collateral, Detailed Joinery & Graphic Fit-Outs

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!

Southbridge Surf Club Awards

Posted: 30th April 2018

Posted in: Laser Etching & Router Cutting, Custom Awards & Event Collateral

A New South Wales institution since 1979, the Southbridge Board Riders celebrate all things surfing in Australia. In need of a customised award for the first, second and third place winners of the 2017 surfing competition awards, as well as the top Male Representative Surfer, we were tasked with creating a compelling award design for the ceremony and various winners.

With a base design made of rich red cedar, we used UV printed blackbutt veneer and laser cutting to create a wooden surfboard design and attractive copy design with the Southbridge Board Riders logo, name and/or placement levels, and year. The Male Representative Surfer award winner, Lennix Smith, also had his name and surf photo attached to his custom award for added design elements.

We love working alongside local companies for all their custom award needs, and look forward to recognising more of our top surfing athletes in the near future.

Interested in having a custom award designed for your next ceremony? Give us a shout via phone, email or Skype and we’d be happy to chat.

QLD Government Turtle Conservation Award

Posted: 16th April 2018

Posted in: Laser Etching & Router Cutting, Custom Awards & Event Collateral, Detailed Joinery & Graphic Fit-Outs

Located in north Queensland about 15 minutes east of Bundaberg, the Mon Repos Turtle Centre & Conservation Park is one of the Queensland Government’s most prestigious animal encounter and protection projects.

Home to the most significant loggerhead turtle nesting population in the South Pacific, Mon Repos offers unique turtle encounters, school excursions and more for those interested in learning more about this prized animal population.

In honour of one man’s hard work and dedication to turtle conservation, we were tasked with creating a custom award for Dr. Col Limpus for his invaluable 50 years of turtle research, spanning from 1968 to 2018.

Wanting to create a modern yet memorable award, we chose solid blackbutt timber with custom brass cut elements and UV print acrylics, adding laser etched artwork and custom paint accents to the rectangular-shaped design of the award. With the turtle logo and Dr. Col’s name prominently displayed, we added a unique portrait etching of Limpus with a turtle for added sentimentality.

We hope Dr. Col loved this award as much as we do, and congratulations to the Queensland Government for their hard work in preserving Australia’s natural beauty and turtle populations.

For your next custom award need, please contact our team of Potato Press designers for further information.

Nautique Dealer Awards

Posted: 2nd April 2018

Posted in: Laser Etching & Router Cutting, Custom Awards & Event Collateral

A leading expert in wakesurfing, wakeboarding, waterskiing and recreational boating in Florida, Nautique is one of our longest-running and most well respected clients.

One of our most recent projects with the Nautique team involved the design and building of their custom made 2017 Dealer Awards, given to the top 10 dealers of the Nautique wakeboarding boats in both the domestic and international categories.

Using blackbutt hardwood, our team of gifted designers created a striking, handmade and hand assembled design with laser cut acrylic elements.

Custom made to include a rectangular shape and angled details – ideal for displaying in the office or at home – we love the look of this uniquely customised Nautique award and always look forward to the next creative project from this legendary team of boating experts.

For your next custom award or event collateral need, contact us by phone, email or Skype and we’d love to help make your vision a reality! As always, thank you for reading and we look forward to having you back.

Quiksilver & Roxy Pro 2018 - Custom Awards

Posted: 19th March 2018

Posted in: Custom Awards & Event Collateral

Here’s a little highlight reel from the 2018 Quiksilver and Roxy Pro. We created the custom timber veneered, layered acrylic awards for the guys over at the WSL (World Surfing League). We love this look for the competition down at Snapper Rocks! Congratulations to Lakey Peterson and Julian Wilson on the wins!

(Pic credit – globalsurfsounds.com)

(Vid Credit – WSL)

Olympic Rowers Custom Gold Medal Case

Posted: 19th March 2018

Posted in: Laser Etching & Router Cutting, Custom Awards & Event Collateral, Detailed Joinery & Graphic Fit-Outs

One of our most prestigious custom design projects, we were contacted to build a custom case for the 2012 London Olympics gold medal rowing team from Australia!

Designed specifically to be free standing or mounted on the wall, we chose an encapsulated veneer and Australian blackbutt timber frame for a classic, timeless look that paid homage to our Aussie heritage.

Laser etched elements were integrated to display the London Olympics logo, as well as the gold, silver and bronze medal finalists and their times, and UV printed acrylic was used for the Olympic rings on the top layer of the award case.

The gold medal was prominently displayed in the centre of the case, and two photos of the Australian team were displayed below for an added touch of sentimentality. We are thrilled to take part in honouring our local Olympians and gold medal winners, and know this custom case will be treasured for generations to come.

Interested in displaying your award in a customised case? Get in touch with our skilled team of professional designers for more information.

Neville Bonner Memorial Artwork

Posted: 5th March 2018

Posted in: Design & Illustration, Laser Etching & Router Cutting

One of our favourite local corporate artwork projects to date, we were recently contacted to design a custom art piece in honour of the late Australian politician, Neville Bonner. The first Aboriginal person to become a member of the Federal Parliament, Bonner was a Senator in Queensland from 1971 to 1983 before passing away at the age of 77 in 1999.

Native to the Indo-Pacific region, a custom Kwila frame was used for the three separate artistic pieces. In addition, A grade marine plywood was used for the interior, where our team members utilised custom laser etching artwork elements to complete the Neville Bonner portrait, as well as corresponding quote, boomerangs, and city landscape.

We are thrilled to participate in a project that pays tribute to our local Queensland legends, and are proud of the stunning design work completed by our Australia-based team members. We hope our fellow Aussies will admire this piece for years to come!

For your next customised corporate artwork need, be sure to get in touch with our team for questions and further information. We look forward to assisting you soon.

Graphic Designer

Posted: 27th February 2018

Posted in: Design & Illustration

Reporting into the creative team, Potato Press has an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic, ambitious, organised and creative designer. We are looking for a candidate that will grow with the company and add support and value to the design team. Being part of a small fast paced team means you get involved with all aspects of the department.

We would love to meet someone with:

Excellent organisation and time management skills who can work at a fast pace on multiple projects
Self-motivation to learn, with continual drive for personal development
Ability to use initiative but also to thrive within a team
Advanced skills in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop
Meticulous attention to detail
Proven track record of working in a fast pace environment to tight deadlines
Strong communication skills
Education to Diploma level or relevant qualifications – preferably graphic design degree.

Please send through your expressions of interest to [email protected]

A little about us…

Potato Press is a creative company that design and manufacture custom made product for companies and individuals seeking to engage people with tactile and uniquely branded pieces. We help forward thinking companies connect and communicate with their consumers through thoughtful design and high quality manufacturing. We understand the importance of branding, so whether we are creating a brand from its inception or working with an established identity, we aim to keep everything congruent and in line with the essence of your company.

Our work is driven by the passion and dedication of our staff. With the perfect mix of old school industry knowledge and fresh creative talent, the team is made up of a hard working crew experienced throughout multiple disciplines.

View some of our recent projects here. We look forward to hearing from you!

Nautique Appreciation & Service Awards

Posted: 19th February 2018

Posted in: Laser Etching & Router Cutting, Custom Awards & Event Collateral

A successful boat building company in the heart of sunny Orlando, Florida, Nautique is one of our favourite long-term, U.S. based clients. With decades of experience in building custom wake and ski boats for clients across the world, Nautique recently contacted us to make their custom Wake for Warriors Appreciation Award and Nautique Service Award.

Partnering with Wake for Warriors, an organisation aimed at helping veterans by providing stress-free days on the water to connect, share and celebrate life, Nautique wished to award David Deep with a customised Appreciation Award for his years of dedication. In addition, Bill Snook was recognised with a custom built award honouring his 34 years of service to the Nautique brand.

Seeking a chic, classic and long-lasting award, our team hand built and assembled the two custom awards from hardwood veneer, using custom acrylic laser cutting and UV printing for detailed design elements that went above and beyond. The laser etched back with the Nautique logo and fun design added a unique twist, and the recipients were beyond thrilled with the result.

In need of custom awards and event collateral? Be sure to reach out to our team for more information, and we look forward to assisting with your project.

Baharian Wealth Management - Office Artwork

Posted: 5th February 2018

Posted in: Design & Illustration, Laser Etching & Router Cutting, Point Of Sale & Marketing Material

Based in Melbourne, Australia, Baharian Wealth Management is a boutique wealth management firm for individuals and families looking to properly manage their assets. With a focus on being “bigger than small, but smaller than big,” Baharian has acquired a widely respected and trusted reputation for clients both locally and afar.

Seeking a one-of-a-kind art piece for their office reception area in the Melbourne CBD, Baharian contacted us for a custom corporate artwork project.

Using their intricate logo design as inspiration, we created a 1200 x 1200 artistic piece to be mounted on the reception room wall, all hand assembled by our team of skilled designers. Beginning with a slab of quality blackbutt timber, we used our laser cutting technology to recreate the Baharian Wealth Management face logo with splashes of the custom PMS matching red colour for emphasis.

With the unique laser cut facial elements and underlying logo design, Baharian was truly impressed with the quality and proud to display the piece in their local Victoria office.

For custom artwork projects or similar enquiries, please contact us directly for questions and quotes. We look forward to hearing from you.

All Saints Pegasus Awards

Posted: 22nd January 2018

Posted in: Design & Illustration, Laser Etching & Router Cutting, Custom Awards & Event Collateral

Located on a 40 hectare campus in the lush Gold Coast hinterland, the All Saints Anglican School celebrates ‘Growing through Grace, Learning through Love.’

Recently enlisted to design a series of custom awards for the recipients of the All Saints Pegasus Awards, a creative writing competition for students, we pulled out all the stops to design a long-lasting piece that would act as a source of pride for both the students and their families for years to come.

Taking inspiration from the pegasus, we utilised laser cut acrylic practices along with UV printed elements to design the multi-coloured pegasus, competition name and All Saints School logo. The 2 pack bases added a sturdy and modern design to the awards, and we were more than pleased with the outcome of the project.

It was excellent to participate in the recognition of our local student population by designing these awards, and we hope to partner with many more schools in the future for all of their custom design award needs.

If your business or organisation is in need of a customised production or design project, be sure to get in touch at (714) 916-0278 for more information. We look forward to assisting you in the future, and as always, thank you for reading!

Billabong Occys Grom Comp - 2017 Custom Pine/Vinyl Awards

Posted: 2nd January 2018

Posted in: Custom Awards & Event Collateral

Here is another round of trophies for this years Occy’s Grom Comp, presented by Billabong. These are awards are crafted with a matte black timber finish accompanied by laser cut reflective text. If you look closely, the mounted reflective text has a latent photo image embedded in the text creating a unique and eye catching feature. If you have a competition coming up and need some custom awards, get in touch and we can help you create a solution for your event!