Tips for Choosing the Right Ribbon Style for Your Event

Award ribbons are versatile recognition pieces that are suitable for a variety of celebrations. From classic first-place blue ribbons to complex rosettes, custom ribbons offer a range of opportunities to recognize corporate milestones, academic achievements and much more. Unlike trophies and plaques, event ribbons are lightweight, allowing you to display them on clothing, décor, walls, shelves and cases. You can use unique combinations of color, texture and embossing to craft a one-of-a-kind recognition piece that will make a lasting impression.

Think About the Purpose of the Event

Some event ribbon styles and designs are better suited to specific ceremonies. Before you begin designing your recognition piece, consider the following questions:

• What type of event are you hosting?
• What message do you want to convey with your award ribbons?
• Will one ribbon style represent your brand and sentiments more effectively than another?
• How will you use ribbon style, material and customization to connect with the recipient?

Consider Ribbon Style Options

Rosette: A rosette is a gathered length of ribbon that forms a flower shape with one or multiple streamers displayed underneath it. They offer a sense of tradition and prestige and can be used for a variety of competitions, presentations and ceremonies.

Flat ribbon: A flat ribbon is a single- or double-layer strip of material with straight or angled edges. You can emboss them with a message for more casual events, making them a cost-effective option if you’re buying in bulk.

Button ribbon: This type of ribbon is crafted around a central button with short streamers. You can use a button ribbon to highlight your logo, company name or award category, making them effective for corporate and small-scale events.

Streamer rosette: This style is similar to a traditional rosette but has longer lengths of ribbons cascading from the center. You can incorporate multiple colors for a highly decorated design that adds movement to show awards.

Tiered ribbons: You can incorporate multiple rosettes and streamers into tiered ribbons to create a complex structure. Vertical designs can indicate hierarchy and highlight prestigious milestones.

Select a Ribbon Material and Finish

Satin: This material has a smooth, shiny finish that provides a touch of elegance for formal events, galas and award ceremonies. It reflects light well and can handle printed logos, text and patterns.

Grosgrain: This type of ribbon features fine horizontal ridges and a matte finish. It’s durable and understated, which is ideal if you prefer a less flashy material that still provides a professional aesthetic.

Organza: Organza is a translucent, light fabric that’s easy to layer. It offers a soft, sophisticated aesthetic and can be used to add decorative touches to events like charity galas and private ceremonies.

Silk: Natural and synthetic silks are glossy fabrics that are a premium choice for prestigious recognition events. The soft texture makes it effective for draping and layering in rosettes and tiered ribbons.

Be Mindful of Color

You can use ribbon color to enhance the aesthetic, highlight your brand and convey specific emotions:

Red: Red is a powerful color that can represent strength and determination for competitions and sports awards.

Blue: A traditional ribbon color, blue can be used to showcase excellence and quality for achievement milestones.

White: This color suggests integrity and purity and can be used when honoring leadership and corporate achievements.

Gold and silver: Metallic colors represent prestige and sophistication, allowing you to invoke a sense of honor that’s appropriate for innovation awards.

Green: Green reflects renewal and sustainability. It’s an effective color choice for academic honors and charity ceremonies.

Purple: Purple has a regal presence that offers a sense of distinction when used in formal ceremonies.

Pay Attention to Sizing Details

Ribbon width and length influence the visual impact of your recognition piece. A wider, longer ribbon creates more of a presence to showcase the significance of an achievement. You can also use size variations when providing awards for first, second or third place to indicate a hierarchy.

In some cases, a large award ribbon may not be appropriate, so it’s important to consider when balancing scale and impact. For example, a narrow ribbon with long streamers could produce a similar sense of grandeur and elegance as a large rosette without the imposing presentation. Ribbon size should provide aesthetic cohesion to harmonize with other elements of your ceremony and to avoid looking gaudy or out of place.

Custom Event Ribbons from Sylvan Studio

Award ribbons don’t have to be generic. The expert team at Sylvan Studio can help you craft a one-of-a-kind recognition piece that will dazzle recipients for years to come. Shop our ribbon and rosette products, then contact our team to schedule a design consultation.