World Athletics Doha: 25 Days to the Most Discussed Track Medals 🏃

IAAF World Championships open September 27 in Doha. The medals — designed by Khalifa University students — feature a falcon-inspired sweep that breaks decades of round-disc convention. Worth understanding before opening night.

Asymmetric Form Breaks Convention

Round medals have dominated for a century. Doha's asymmetric falcon-sweep form gives designers permission to break the round default. Expect copycat asymmetric medals across regional sport events in 2020-2021; if you want originality now, lean into geometric asymmetry rather than symmetric round forms.

Student-Led Design Is the Story

Khalifa University students designed the medals — the cultural authenticity built into the process itself. For Thai regional sport events, commissioning a local design-faculty student or recent graduate to lead medal design is the cheapest way to inject genuine local feel. Cost: a small commission fee. Outcome: medals that feel earned by the community.