Awarding someone to boost their morale and motivation for their recognizable performance is a common practice in the early days and in today’s world. Trophies are given to people who excel in sports, media, academia, at their jobs, etc. Usually, you can get a plaque or trophy as a prize for being the best in your field. However, a plaque and trophy are often confused and used interchangeably without a clear distinction. What’s the difference?
What is a Plaque?
As its appearance suggests, the term “plaque” means an ornamental tablet or a plate. Plaques are mainly made of glass and crystal. Other materials also used are stone, ceramic, wood, and sometimes gold. Plaques are primarily used as an award for good performance or achievement.
Plaques are mainly used in formal events, occasions, and corporate worlds. It is commonly awarded to employees, organizations, and companies or their members to give credit for a commendable accomplished duty.
A plaque award is a good motivator for employees and organizations. It shows that you have been credited for the excellent work done. Plaque awards motivate employees or corporate members to work harder, thus increasing their productivity.
Plaques come in different shapes. Most basic plaques are square-shaped, circle-shaped, or rectangle-shaped. Plaques typically contain texts, time and date stamps, and the appropriate image(s) in some cases. The texts in a plaque state who is awarded, the reason for the recognition, the time, and the date. It also shows where the award comes from; a person, organization, sponsor, or donor.
Plaques can sometimes contain the logo of the awarding organization. They can be mounted on walls, office tables, or home study tables, where they are easily visible and appealing. It would be best if one is given an award plaque at events or open ceremonies to capture people’s attention and to convey the specialty and importance, amplifying the recognition.
What is a Trophy?
A trophy has been the most common award form. It was historically awarded after war to soldiers who did exceptionally well in battle. Today, a trophy is awarded to a team or a person as a reward for exemplary achievements. A trophy can also be awarded in sporting activities, music, art, academia, media, and acting.
Just as plaques, trophies are made from gold, wood, glass, metal, or any shapeable material relevant to the particular event. They are mainly cup-shaped and are tailor-made or molded. However, the shapes of a trophy vary based on the sport; for example, most football trophies include a ball shape in the design.
Other major sports with customized trophy designs are tennis, rugby, motorsports, golf, crickets, and athletics. A trophy is a predetermined target or goal for a team, a student, or a player. It fuels a team to embrace teamwork leading you to achieve your goal. For a single student or player, a trophy distinguishes them from others showing they are the best.
When choosing a trophy for a sporting event or a person, it would be best to consider uniqueness, quality, durability, engraving, and cost. A trophy made of materials of high quality does not decolorize easily after some time. A trophy should also be well engraved, giving it beauty, prestigious touch, and an appealing appearance. Additionally, a trophy should also be durable enough to keep them memorable.
Major Differences Between a Plaque and a Trophy
Major distinctive differences between a plaque and a trophy are such as:
- Plaques are awarded as a recognition for commendable achievement. On the other hand, a trophy is awarded as a win in a competition
- A plaque is limited in terms of shape and color of the design, while a trophy can be made in a variety of shape designs, and colors
- A plaque bears the name of the awarded person or group. On the other hand, a trophy does not need to contain the names of the winner
- A trophy can be customized in shape and design for particular sporting activity, while plaques are not
For most people, there is a thin line of distinction between a plaque from a trophy. It would be best if you were keen to choose the right one between the two for an event or occasion. When selecting a plaque or a trophy for an award, it is important to consider the quality of material used, durability, beauty, and cost.