Employee Recognition Design for MSA Orthopedics

Some awards tell you what someone achieved. The best ones also tell you something about the culture they belong to — the values the organization recognizes, the identity it carries forward. The Running Man Awards, presented by MSA Orthopedics, is exactly that kind of program.

We designed and produced a complete set of custom layered awards for the 2024 ceremony — covering Employee of the Year, Excellence in Service, and Growth Mindset categories. Each piece built from the same design system, each one personalized for a specific recipient.

The Running Man Awards — Presented by MSA Orthopedics

MSA Orthopedics built their internal recognition program around a clear idea: that achievement deserves to be acknowledged in a way that feels meaningful, not generic. The Running Man Awards framework covers multiple recognition categories — each tied to a specific value the organization prioritizes.

Dark Wood, Deep Blue, White 3D Figure — A Design Built Around Motion

The form is an asymmetric upright panel — tall, angular, cut at a diagonal that gives the award a sense of forward movement before anyone reads a word. That shape alone communicates energy, which is exactly right for a program named after motion.

Three layers work together to build the final object. A dark-stained wood base forms the structural body and visible frame. A deep navy blue acrylic panel sits flush against it — the brand color that carries all the printed information: award name, recipient, year, and the MSA Orthopedics logo. In front of both, a white 3D acrylic running figure is mounted slightly proud of the surface, catching light and casting a subtle shadow that makes it read as dimensional rather than flat.

The result is an award that has genuine depth — not just visually, but physically. You can see the layers from the side. The construction is part of the design.

03 — Construction Detail

The Layering Is the Design

What makes this award distinctive is the intentional use of depth. Most plaques are flat — a single surface with printed or engraved text. These awards have three visible layers, each with its own material and role.

The light blue acrylic edge panel peeks out from behind the navy face — barely visible from the front, fully visible from the side. It creates a color transition that reinforces the brand palette and adds a sophistication that's hard to achieve with a single-material approach.

The dark wood frame provides contrast and weight. Against the navy panel, it reads as a border — precise, controlled, premium. The grain is subtle under the dark stain, present but not dominant. It grounds the award without pulling focus from the brand identity on the face.

And then the running figure — white, three-dimensional, slightly raised. It's the element that moves the whole piece from plaque to object. Something you look at, not just read.

Recognition That Matches the Brand

The completed award set was delivered ceremony-ready for The Running Man Awards 2024 — each piece personalized for its recipient, each category visually consistent within the system, and the whole set unified by the same construction and brand language.

Internal Recognition Programs with a Strong Brand Identity

This award format — layered materials, strong brand color, dimensional logo element — works especially well for organizations that have a defined visual identity they want the award to carry forward:

• Healthcare and medical organization employee recognition
• Internal awards programs with multiple recognition categories
• Annual ceremonies where the award needs to reflect company values
• Any program where a standard plaque would feel like a missed opportunity

The design can adapt to your brand color, your logo mark, and your category structure — while keeping the same layered construction that makes these awards genuinely stand out on a desk.