Silver Awards, Prize and Competitions Design · 2021
Nagrada Award
by Igor Dydykin
- A' Design Award 2021 Silver Winner in Awards, Prize and Competitions Design
- Awarded April 15, 2021
- CLIENT: Dydykin
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 999,119
- Verification code 908F11407A · Verify this award
About Nagrada Award
This design is realized to contribute to the normalization of life during self-isolation, and to create a special award for the winners of online tournaments. The award's design represents the transformation of a Pawn into a Queen, as a recognition of the player's progress in chess. The award consists of two flat figures, the Queen and the Pawn, which are inserted into each other due to narrow slots forming a single cup. The award design is durable thanks to stainless steel and is convenient for transportation to the winner by mail.
This distinguished example of contemporary trophy design demonstrates how the recognition object has evolved from mere commemorative marker to sophisticated sculptural statement. Igor Dydykin's Nagrada Award synthesizes multiple visual traditions into a cohesive emblematic form that communicates achievement and excellence through considered formal decisions. The verticality of the composition draws upon the Western visual tradition associating upward movement with aspiration, triumph, and transcendence, while the crown apex explicitly references monarchical and ceremonial symbolism transferred into the contemporary context of competitive recognition. The designer appears to have engaged thoughtfully with the semiotics of chess pieces, particularly the queen or king, creating an object that suggests strategic mastery and hierarchical supremacy. The mirror finish represents a considered material choice that transforms the trophy into an interactive object, reflecting its environment and, symbolically, the achievements of its recipient back into the world. The organic negative spaces carved into the midsection prevent the form from reading as monolithic, introducing visual rhythm and suggesting gestural movement that animates what might otherwise appear static. The trefoil base provides both physical stability and visual grounding while incorporating the inscription that personalizes each award instance. Technical execution appears accomplished, with seamless surfaces and precise geometry indicating sophisticated fabrication methods appropriate to objects intended to commemorate significant achievement. The photographic presentation employs studio lighting conventions that maximize the material's inherent reflective qualities while creating dramatic atmosphere through the deep tonal contrast between object and ground. What meanings might emerge from an object designed to simultaneously honor past accomplishment and inspire future aspiration?
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The Nagrada represents the transformation of a Pawn into a Queen, as a recognition of the player’s high skill in chess. The award consists of two flat figures - the Queen and the Pawn, which are inserted into each other due to narrow slots forming a single cup. This method allows to create different thematic cups and deliver them in a standard mail packaging.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Height 280mm
Length 90mm
Width 90mm / 6mm (assembled / unassembled)
Weight 0.57 kg. - Tags
- Cup, Award, Queen, Chess, Competitions, Steel, Stainless steel, Figure, Statue, Pawn, Online competition
- Production Technology
- The stainless steel is used in the award manufacturing. Waterjet cutting gives the cup its intended shape. Then manual grinding and polishing is applied. If necessary, engraving with text and image can be done. The Nagrada takes on its final appearance after electrochemical polishing and manual finishing of surfaces.
- Design Challenge
- For online tournaments, where players can be hundreds of thousands of kilometers apart, where there is no way to personally receive the award from the organizers of the event, it was necessary to create a decent award convenient for transportation and sending the winner by mail.
- Project Duration
- The project started in March 2020 and ended in May 2020 in Tolyatti
- Operation Flow
- The Nagrada is made of stainless steel, has significant weight, it is easily disassembled for ease of delivery worldwide. The surface of the award can be customized to fit the needed style. It can be fully or partially covered with colour, graphics and inscriptions.
- Research
- To create an object that facilitates, motivates and supports the person’s desire for self-development, especially now in the conditions of lockdown and self-isolation, it was found that chess, as a sport and science, can be played both offline and online formats. The various competition awards were studied as a physical manifestation of the success.
- Inspiration
- It is nice not only to win the tournament, but also to receive the desired prize. We decided to contribute to the normalization of life during isolation, and to create a special award for the winners of online tournaments.
- Image Credits
- DYDYKIN Studio
Colors of Nagrada Award
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G0E3 ShopDesign Interview about Nagrada Award
The key idea was to create an award that can be used in online chess tournaments where there is no way for participants to receive the award in person. The award should be easy to transport to the winners.
The award is the face of any competition. It contributes to the popularization of the tournament, attracts more participants, her image is spread in the media and social networks. Having studied the awards and cups of various tournaments and the peculiarities of playing chess, the idea was born to create a collapsible cup symbolizing the transformation of a pawn into a queen, as a recognition of growth and reaching a new milestone. Such an award can be delivered to the recipient in a standard mailing package. Having studied the conditions of transportation, we realized that the object must be sufficiently strong and compact, for this stainless steel was chosen. Specialists from Grega, a steel company, helped us develop the technology and produce a trial batch of awards.
We are ready to offer this project as a reward for tournaments so that Nagrada finds its application and becomes a worthy prize for its winners
The project began in March 2020 in Togliatti and ended in May 2020 in Togliatti.
The project was developed for Dydykin Studio. The reward allows to gain new experience. Receiving a physical award in an online tournament creates a sense of personal satisfaction for the results achieved and enhances self-esteem.
Together with our partner, Grega, we are working on the issue of producing and customizing awards for individual customer requests. We will be happy to offer both ready-made rewards and develop unique versions for tournament organizers.
We aimed to create a more sustainable connection between people and organizations in the online space. Nagrada becomes an attribute that connects the player at the computer, the organizer and other participants in the tournament. The awarded person has respect for the organization and the persons who have appreciated his merits and made the appropriate decision.
For the development of the production technology and the manufacture of a trial batch of awards, we turned to Grega, a company specializing in working with steel.
Nagrada is suitable for organizers of chess tournaments, creative events and competitions, where it is important for participants to show their intellectual and creative abilities.
Nagrada consists of two flat pieces of a pawn and a queen, which are inserted into each other through narrow slots that form a single reward. 3mm thick stainless steel was chosen as the main material, as it provides the necessary strength, stability and attractive appearance. Thanks to the soft transitions and smooth corners, the figurine looks safe. The cup can be easily customized for the desired style, it can be completely or partially covered with color, graphics and inscriptions. The award has a significant weight of 570 grams, which allows the recipient to better feel its value, at the same time, these parameters are great for transporting folded in a standard A4 mail bag.
Nagrada in translation from Russian means - reward, encouragement of a person for his achievements.
During the development of this project, manual sketching, vector design in Adobe Illustrator, cardboard and stainless steel prototyping were used.
The design of the award epitomizes pawn-to-queen promotion as a recognition of mastery.
Our team included: project manager Ludmila Sapalova, product photographer Anzelika Dydykina and Sergey Grekov from the Grega company specializing in working with steel.
Stainless steel is used in the manufacture of the award. By means of waterjet cutting the product is given the intended shape. Then hand sanding and polishing is applied. If necessary, engraving is done with text and image. The final form of the award gets after electrochemical polishing and manual finishing of the product.
We investigated the awards and cups of various tournaments and the peculiarities of the game of chess. After examining the conditions of transportation, we realized that the reward should be strong and compact enough so that it can be safely delivered to the recipient in a standard mailing package.
We paid the greatest attention to the clarity and accuracy of the manufacture of awards, so that when the parts are closed, all the elements are well joined.
Having experience of interaction with the A 'Design Award competition, we were interested in how the international jury would evaluate this award, so it was decided to submit this project to the international competition.
We had tremendous pleasure working on this project. We learned to play chess, studied many features of the use of stainless steel in production and attracted talented people to our team.
We would like to thank the A’Design team for their timely feedback and the opportunity to grow professionally within your community.