Case Study
VISO’s Sculptural Glass Trophies for the 2025 Gold Key Awards
Transforming Fluidity into Form
The Gold Key Awards, one of the most respected international recognitions in hospitality design, commissioned VISO to create three distinct trophy designs for its 2025 ceremony. The awards required sculptural integrity, material innovation, and a sophisticated visual identity that reflected the prestige of the event.
Design Intent :
Tzetzy drew inspiration from a sheer drape encountered during her travels—a fabric in a violet-claret tone that shifted subtly with light. The team’s ambition was to reinterpret this fluid, translucent quality into solid block glass, preserving both the color depth and movement implied by the original fabric.
Challenges :
Translating Sheer Fabric Into Solid Glass
The core challenge was achieving the same soft visual shading found in the drape while using sheet block glass, a material that is naturally heavy, rigid, and light-absorbing.
To capture the illusion of softness, the team developed a glass composition with:
Consistent coloration across all three trophy forms
Gradated visual shading achieved through varying thickness
A sculptural silhouette that maintained structural integrity
This approach allowed the violet-claret tone to deepen from top to base, creating a fluid color transition reminiscent of the original draped textile.
Prototyping & Stability Issues
During the first round of prototyping, two trophy versions experienced tipping issues. The combination of substantial weight and sculptural geometry required careful recalibration to ensure stability without compromising the design intent.
