The design featured the Humber College logo, which was frosted onto the clear acrylic interior and accentuated by a contrasting black color, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing and seamless appearance. I utilized a layering technique to provide depth to the awards without adding unnecessary weight, allowing recipients to easily display or store them on shelves.
Inspired by the contrast between black and clear acrylic, I aimed to create something that would make recipients feel truly honored to receive the award. Previous awards from the organization were relatively simple, so I wanted to push the envelope and design something that would stand out.
Additionally, the contrasting black against clear acrylic, along with the pop of color on the edges, adds a visually striking detail and sophisticated touch to the design.
Instead of using vinyl, which is toxic when laser cut, metallic-colored acrylics were wrapped in black satin polycarbonate and cut. The polycarbonate was etched away to create the metallic components. However, due to budgetary constraints and logistical issues, the metallic components were replaced with black acrylic components.
Assembling the pieces without adhesive glue presented a challenge. Acetone was used as a chemical welding agent, but it caused a shattered effect on the edges. To solve this issue, a series of etched grooves were added to interlocking pieces. The first groove, in orange, was filled with acetone, and the two halves were clipped together. The secondary groove, in gray, prevented overflow from reaching the edges, resulting in a smooth finish.
The base plate was created by fitting a piece of 1/4" Clear Acrylic to the vertical portion and welding a 1/8" acrylic base plate to the bottom using acetone.
