Clean designs usually work best for medals. Photos can work in some cases, especially with UV printing, but traditional medal production usually works better with:
- Clean lines
- Solid shapes
- Strong contrast
- Readable text
- Chunkier design elements
- Clear event name and distance
- Limited tiny details
- Limited thin lines or cursive fonts
Medal design is different from printing on T-shirts, hats, or paper. A design that looks great on a shirt may need to be simplified so it works well as a medal.
Most first-time race medal orders are around 3 inches in diameter. Around 3 inches is popular because it gives enough room for a strong design while keeping cost, weight, and shipping more manageable. Larger medals, such as 7–8 inches, can create a bigger impression, but they cost more in material and shipping because they are heavier.