The Deloitte Fast 500 Plaque
Annually, Deloitte commemorates the “Fast 500”, a list of 500 of the fastest-growing technology companies in the world. In previous years, the plaques were very “standard” and Deloitte inquired about having them redesigned— making the plaque’s design was growing and improving with the companies as well.
My Approach
In a client call, I always try to establish the client’s main desires, what inspiration led them to wanting a design, what materials they do and don’t like and their budget. Deloitte wanted something sleek and much more modern than past designs and my mind went to the “Tron” movies. I designed 3 main forms of plaques for them and many variations of each.
They were quite open to materials and dozens of concepts were created, utilizing bamboo for a sustainable option, jade glass, crystal, acrylic, brushed aluminum— versions with standoffs. Some brand assets were given to me from Deloitte to add a subtle pattern but ultimately a new artwork I created was chosen for the final design.
Staying on brand + Versatility
Ultimately, Deloitte chose my favorite design from the versions I created— the one inspired by "Tron." This design featured a green acrylic panel, sandwiched between a chamfered black acrylic piece and a powder-coated, brushed aluminum plate. The plate was decorated with artwork I created, incorporating layered transparencies that highlighted the green accent. While working on finalizing the design with the client, I was also coordinating with manufacturing partners domestic and overseas to achieve a perfect color match for Deloitte’s requested green.
In past years, the design was wall-mounted, but with my design, I added threaded inserts for removable standoffs, allowing it to be displayed on a desk or wall. This flexibility ensured no assumptions about display preferences. Ideally, I would have suggested Deloitte conduct primary research on recipient preferences, but versatility is always appreciated.
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Evaluating Sample Color Matched Acrylic from the Factory.
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Back Side of Plaque with Keyhole and Standoffs.
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Acrylic Elements Before Placing Metal Plate.
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Render of Final Design.
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Packaging Design for Plaque.
The Final Product
The finished plaque— constructed from green and black acrylic, chamfered to catch a bit of extra light, sitting underneath a powder-coated brushed aluminum plate for a layer of complexity yet subtlety.
