2019 in Review: 4 Trophy Industry Shifts to Plan Around for 2020 📊

Twelve months of Super Bowl, Cricket World Cup, Wimbledon, Tour de France, Rugby World Cup, SEA Games, Thai Coronation. Four patterns emerged clearly — each one worth carrying into 2020 award programs.

Asymmetric Medals Are Coming Mainstream

Doha's falcon-sweep asymmetric medals broke a century of round-disc convention in 2019. Expect regional sport medals across Asia to start adopting asymmetric forms through 2020-2021. For 2020 briefs, propose asymmetric over round — the design fee is identical but the photo content is dramatically more interesting.

Cultural Specificity Beats Generic

Doha's falcon, Philippines' T'nalak weaving, Japan's calligraphy display — every major medal program in 2019 anchored to one specific host-culture detail rather than generic regional iconography. For 2020 Thai events, lean into one specific cultural anchor per program (Naga, lotus, Garuda, temple roof) rather than five generic Southeast Asian references.