In the hands of a skilled designer, printer, embroiderer or craftsman, decorating adds the wow factor that can transform almost any product into an instant fan favorite.
In this year’s PPAI Pyramid Awards in Supplier Decorating, judges awarded gold and silver trophies to 20 projects in 11 categories to honor their exceptional problem-solving skills, creativity, attention to detail and expert craftsmanship. PPAI congratulates these nine companies for their stellar achievements in making the magic happen.
Casting/Molding
Gold Award
SRG
The client requested an “Oscar-style” trophy with unique adaptations: a figure with a prosthetic leg, holding a flag with the “Oscar Mike” logo. The flag and pole presented a major difficulty, as they needed to be separated from the original mold to allow for strength, balance and clean detailing.
Additionally, unlike traditional statuettes where the legs are joined for stability, this design required separated legs to reflect accuracy and intent. To resolve this, smaller specialized screws and reinforcements were used to ensure stability without compromising the design.
The overall process involved concept design, custom sculpting, mold separation, casting, detailed finishing, polishing, plating and precision mounting to the tiered black base. The finished trophy is a technically complex yet visually striking award that embodies perseverance, strength and movement.
Silver Award
SRG
The client’s vision was to create a lifetime achievement award with complex angles, substantial presence and delicate elegance, a combination difficult to achieve in a single piece. Development began by creating a precise prototype using a CNC machine to perfectly translate the complex digital model into a physical master form.
Next, SRG used traditional mold-making processes to create two production molds. Building the trophy from two separate pieces managed the weight of the structure effectively and helped achieve a flawless, high-polish finish by providing unobstructed access to every surface and angle during the post-polishing phase.
The overall result was flawless execution of the client’s exact vision, delivering a tangible symbol of excellence that perfectly honored its top-tier recipients.
Combination of Processes
Gold Award
SRG
The main challenge of this project was translating a non-technical, AI-generated concept into a physically viable award. Unlike conventional designs, the source image was created without regard for structural physics or manufacturing constraints. This required a complete reverse-engineering process.
To solve the problem, the designer interpreted the 2D vision into a functional 3D model designed for structural integrity and adding a stable mounting area, along with planning the polishing process for the complex angles of the piece.
The client was thrilled with the final product, and it stands as a testament to SRG’s ability to turn innovative ideas into award-winning reality.
Silver Award
Opti Print & Fulfillment
As part of Delta Air Lines’ 100th anniversary, the airline wanted to release a centennial-themed trading card collection featuring its new colors and branding. The initial order was for 4.8 million trading cards to help create positive interactions between the pilots and passengers.
The ultra-high-end trading cards were created using the six-step, patented OptiChrome procedure, a 3D metallic, embossed printing process, and each card was finished with a film laminate applied on the back and die-cut round corners.
In the past year, Delta has ordered more than $2 million worth of the cards, with pilots raving about how much passengers love them. The cards also inspired more than 5 million posts on social media, garnering over 200 million impressions.
Customized Non-Catalog Product
Gold Award
SRG
For many years, SRG has supplied McDonald’s with stock appreciation and service awards for franchisees and employees. Recently, however, the supplier was asked to design and produce a set of custom regional awards to acknowledge exemplary results in all facets of franchise operations, including customer satisfaction, personnel and marketing efforts.
The award was to be a substantial display piece, freestanding, unique and three-dimensional in concept and execution. The criteria for the award also included two critical design elements: the iconic McDonald’s “Golden Arches” M logo and the equally classic Big Mac burger.
Inspired by the three-legged stool of McDonald’s global business model (owner/operators, suppliers, employees), SRG opted for a fanciful rendition of the model crafted completely in glass. Three identical arches were waterjet-cut from sparkling starfire glass, each emulating the shape of one arch of the logo. Atop the arches, they placed a facsimile of the Big Mac, assembled from five layers of starfire glass. The finished product captured the project’s intent perfectly, and the customer was highly impressed.
Silver Award
The Chest
The client wanted eye-catching packaging for a tumbler, pen and journal that would fit within its budget. The solution was a custom-designed slider box crafted with a compartment for each item to elevate the unboxing experience.
The box and items were first measured with precision calibration tools to ensure an exact fit. Using CAD software, The Chest created the template and produced test samples on a CAD table to guarantee quality and accuracy. Once finalized, the template was sent to the client for artwork placement. After sign-off on the proof, the die was produced locally, and the artwork was printed in vibrant four-color process. The material was then cut on a clamshell press and assembled for direct shipment to each recipient.
The finished product exceeded expectations, delivering both functionality and a memorable presentation – and it resulted in a reorder.
Embroidery
Gold Award
Vantage Apparel
The back of the Vantage Roadie Denim Jacket features a colorful, visually striking WinterPalooza – an intricately detailed showpiece created through a meticulous embroidery process. The design required almost 60,000 stitches alongside direct-to-film printing to add depth and texture. The guitar centerpiece was elevated with a laser-cut applique base, serving both aesthetic and functional purposes.
By building the foundation with embroidery, Vantage could incorporate metallic gold threads for the guitar strings – a notoriously challenging thread type due to frequent breakage. This approach minimized stress on the metallic thread, ensuring clean, uninterrupted runs while enhancing the design’s dimensional appeal.
Etching/Engraving/Laser
Gold Award
Opti Print & Fulfillment
Opti Print & Fulfillment was challenged to produce a unique facsimile of a Citizens Bank credit card, down to the tiniest details. Thousands of the cards were then used to create a 12-foot-tall baseball mitt sculpture for Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia to promote the bank’s new line of credit cards.
The cards had to be identical to the bank’s credit card yet durable enough to withstand the rigors of the sculpture assembly. A special 30 mil material was selected, and after printing, the cards were laser-cut with Citizen’s distinguished notch in the side and the edges filled in by hand with a felt marker. Next, the cards were glued together in fours by hand to create the pieces used to construct the sculpture. In a process that took nearly a year to complete, the cards were then applied to a 4.5-ton chrome sculpture of a baseball mitt in a studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and then the sculpture was shipped to the Philadelphia ballpark.
More than 100,000 people viewed the sculpture at its unveiling, and it generated more than 20 million impressions on social media, greatly exceeding the client’s goal.
Large Format Printing
Gold Award
Opti Print & Fulfillment
Under a strict confidentiality agreement and using a code name during the entire process, Opti Print & Fulfillment produced a lenticular world tour poster promoting Ariana Grande’s 2025 “Eternal Sunshine” Tour.
The client’s creative brief specified two images: a dreamland effect featuring Grande floating in midair and a dream glamour shot of her gazing into the distance. More than 30 hours of prepress time were used to create the two-phase flip poster. Opti produced four different press proofs of preproduction samples to get the exact hue as well as the artistic embellishments requested by Grande and her agency. The poster was printed on an 18 mil 75 lines-per-inch lenticular lens sheet and was backed up for opacity with a 2.3 mil printable soft touch liner.
To ensure perfection, each of the 18×24-inch posters was individually hand inspected and triple boxed for international shipments, as well as delivered in specially designated vans. Opti received orders for three reprints of this poster – more than tripling the original order quantity – and the tour completely sold out in 48 hours.
Silver Award
Opti Print & Fulfillment
Opti Print & Fulfillment faced a daunting challenge when it was selected to print five 47.5×68.5-inch lenticular prints for the Museum of Fine Arts Boston which was hosting the Van Gogh: The Roulin Family Portraits exhibit.
The massive prints were going to be installed at strategic points in the museum during the exhibit, and their colors had to match perfectly to the paintings. Because the color match was so critical, three museum curators flew to the supplier’s factory in Dallas to watch the posters being printed over two and a half days.
Opti used a 40 lines-per-inch 33 mil lens on its new flatbed digital printer to create the lenticular animation of a flip so that when viewed by museum visitors, they saw the first painting and then the second painting, all on one poster. But the real color test came when the prints arrived at the museum and were placed side-by-side with the Van Gogh paintings – and the colors matched flawlessly.
Mascot/Character Product
Gold Award
Opti Print & Fulfillment
Opti Print & Fulfillment produced several projects for Taylor Swift in 2024 and 2025, but the one that also involved Disney resulted in a true VIP experience. The objective was to create a stunning keepsake for 300 people invited to the world premiere of “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” by Disney.
Opti created a one-of-a-kind foil ticket for the concert film screening with layered liquid foil that changed from gold to silver to black as it was rotated. This was achieved by using the company’s Scodix press to produce the layered liquid foil (Opti owns one of only two such machines in the U.S.).
All printing on the ticket was done in gold, silver and black raised foil, including each individual seat number printed with variable data. Exactly 300 tickets were produced, and none were left at the event after the show.
Silver Award
Opti Print & Fulfillment
To tease media, influencers and select venues about the Rolling Stones’ upcoming “Black & Blue” Tour, the band’s agency wanted a tour poster with a cool, psychedelic effect reminiscent of the 1960s. The goal was to achieve a firestorm of media rumors about the tour a year in advance of announcing dates and locations. The agency had a concept in mind but no idea how to execute it.
After approximately 60 hours of prepress time, Opti Print & Fulfillment presented four different concepts to the agency, which were then reviewed by the band. The first idea was the winner, and the real work began for Opti. Using an 18 mil 75-line lenticular lens and printed on a UV offset 12-color Heidelberg press, one 16.537×23.387-inch lenticular poster was run in order to get perfect registration for the 800 copies ordered. Each poster was finished with a 2.3 mil dead opaque vinyl backer to ensure the brightness and fullness of the colors. The posters were then flatbed-trimmed and carton-packed for easy shipping to select U.S. and international locations.
Print On Hard Surfaces
Gold Award
Opti Print & Fulfillment
Opti Print & Fulfillment was chosen to create two lenticular prints for the Museum of Modern Art in New York City for its Best of American Art series. Out of 100 entries, Opti’s flower print was awarded Best of Show, and the company won the competition and the honor of creating and producing prints for the exhibition.
More than 50 hours of prepress time were used to print more than 20 of each of the two images to get the required number for the competition and display. Opti used its proprietary software and Photoshop to create the 3D depth and animation needed to add movement to the image. Using special packing and courier services, the prints were delivered to New York City, and MoMA allowed members of the Opti team to personally supervise installation of the prints in the museum. Lighting was a key factor, and MoMA personnel worked with the team to create the exact contrast needed.
Silver Award
CounterPoint
A stunning image of top Canyon/SRAM Racing cyclist Kasia Niewiadoma, captured in a moment of intense competition, pairs well with bold messaging to visually express Giro Sport Design’s passion for design and innovation. The image was printed on a PVC sheet using an HP Indigo 30000 digital offset lithography press then laminated with CounterPoint’s durable Vynex surface, a liquid electrophotography technology. It was finished with a durable DuraTec base to easily withstand daily use in a retail environment.
To achieve the stark contrast and make the image come alive, graphic artists applied expert color correction to ensure perfection of all the intricate details, from the helmet’s design to the blur of the trees. The result is a vibrant counter mat with exceptional clarity, making the passion and performance of professional cycling come to life.
Print On Textiles
Gold Award
KOOLGATOR
Texas can still be very warm in November, so St. David’s HealthCare, official healthcare provider to the University of Texas, selected a deluxe cooling towel to hand out to 10,000 fans at the Texas Longhorns vs. Florida Gators football game on November 9. The ultra-cooling fabric only needs water to enhance the natural evaporation process, dropping the towel’s temperature to a cool 68 degrees for quick relief on that warm Saturday.
The decorating process started by printing the design onto large sheets of transfer paper using a dye sublimation plotter machine. A roller press then heated the ink into a gaseous state and pressed it into the fabric, which was cut and sewn by hand. With this dye sublimation process, the ink is not felt on the fabric’s surface as it is with silk screens or heat transfers, and the ink never bleeds. The cooling towel was then completed with a finished edge using a serger stitch.
Silver Award
KOOLGATOR
Drivers for ABC Supply, North America’s largest wholesale distributor of roofing supplies and other building products, were the recipients of a custom KOOLGATOR Tubular Headwear piece with exceptional cooling properties. The versatile wrap can be worn in 12 different ways and is made with dual-purpose ultra-cooling fabric that cools quickly when wet and swiftly wicks away sweat when worn dry.
ABC presented the employee gifts as part of a new recognition program to honor and reward the drivers for their hard work, safety record and commitment to customer service. Each headwear piece was decorated using dye sublimination with a design that included the driver recognition logo framed by two abstract American flags and a “12 Ways to Wear” graphic demonstrating the product’s versatility for the user.
Special Applications/Processes
Gold Award
Totally Chocolate Promo
For a special holiday gift, this three-piece tower box set began with 45 custom-engraved milk and dark chocolate squares, crafted using the company’s patented precision short-run molds. At the center was a 4×6-inch bar of premium white chocolate featuring a striking full-color imprint. The second tier of the tower held 24 branded milk chocolate sugar cookies and was topped by a boxed third tier of indulgent milk chocolate-covered caramels. A luxe lid, wrapped with a vivid full-color band, elevated the presentation.
Each of the 50 drop-shipped packages carried a custom label and client-supplied card, ensuring a personal touch. All elements in this gift, including chocolate, molds and packaging, were produced in-house in the USA, ensuring end-to-end quality oversight. The result was a memorable, multi-layered gifting experience that combined artistry, flavor and flawless execution to powerfully reinforce the client’s brand.
Silver Award
Koozie Group
This custom bottle, created for The Home Depot, demonstrates how even a simple design can deliver a high-end, custom look. The raised embossing adds depth and texture without the need for complex artwork.
The process for decorating the Garyline Boss Embossed Tritan bottle began in the art department, where the logo was laid out to fit the flat surface of the bottle and then sent for approval. Once the design was finalized, it moved to the tool room, where precise embossing molds were made by engraving the customer’s design into the metal with meticulous attention to detail.
Production began by heating the bottle preform to be soft enough to shape but not molten. The embossing molds were then integrated into the blow mold, and as the preform expanded, the plastic conformed precisely to the engraved mold, forming the raised design.
Clean, bold and brand-forward, this bottle perfectly aligned with The Home Depot’s brand identity while making a strong visual impression.
Supplier/Distributor Collaboration
Gold Award
Opti Print & Fulfillment
This project for the San Jose Mineta International Airport was a collaboration between Opti Print & Fulfillment, distributor TSG and the city of San Jose, California, and it took more than six months to complete. The installation of four large wall murals, each containing four 36×48-inch lenticular prints, tells a story about the city. The art was the result of a contest with artists from the San Jose area who submitted concepts, and four artists were selected to design and create the murals.
From the start, the project had its challenges. The artists were painters and not skilled in Photoshop, which was needed to create the files for lenticular prints. There was also trial and error in synching the four different panels in each mural to make the animation move in an organized and linear process. To get each step right, Opti spent more than 250 hours of prepress time before the actual printing began.
Despite the hurdles, the resulting murals exceeded the airport’s vision for its public art program and won public praise, as well as accolades and awards from the city. Opti says this project was truly a labor of love that turned out beautifully.
Silver Award
BAG MAKERS
BAG MAKERS partnered with distributor Inspired Results/Safeguard to create custom packaging for Finnegan the Dragon, a children’s early literacy program that incorporates interactive songs and guided sound play. The client wanted to convey the loveable whimsy of the Finnegan character through the box design and inspire excitement for children and their parents to unbox the materials and begin the program.
The finished box, designed to hold a plush dragon, book, mirror, pocket chart and flashcards, was constructed of heavy, white fluted cardboard with interior and exterior gloss lamination printed with a four-color, edge-to-edge process. The exterior artwork prominently featured a colorful Finnegan the Dragon holding a musical note, while the bright green interior featured another image of Finnegan and a QR code to start the program.
Filipski is a freelance writer and former director of publications at PPAI.
