I’ve designed and produced more deal toys than I can count. Since the late 1990s, I’ve worked directly in Lucite, crystal, and resin factories across North America, Europe and Asia, learning every stage of production firsthand.

That hands-on understanding of how these pieces are made — from casting and polishing to laser etching and finishing — informs design decisions and shapes every project I take on from start to finish.

Earlier in my career, I led creative teams at two of the largest deal toy companies in the world, running studios in New York, London and Hong Kong between 1999 and 2023. Our teams created designs for major global banks, private-equity firms, pharmaceutical companies and major corporations around the world, helping define the visual language of the modern deal toy. I hired, trained and mentored dozens of designers who populate the industry today.

As a result of this experience, I’m among the very few producers worldwide who understand this work from the inside out — not just how it looks, but how it’s made. I’ve spent years on factory floors, learning how Lucite cures, how resin behaves, how crystal is cut and how a polished edge or embedded detail can transform a concept into something unforgettable.

Today, I’m part of a talented, experienced team at Polaris Custom Awards, a boutique deal toy firm known for its craftsmanship and creative problem-solving. We share a deep respect for the process of custom manufacturing and a belief that every deal toy should be meaningful, memorable and appropriate for the story it represents.

The goal of the Deal Toy Expert website is simple. It exists to serve as an authoritative source of information about an art form that has rarely been documented in depth — the design, production and small-batch manufacturing of custom Lucite, crystal and resin awards.

My aim is to share insights, context and real-world expertise for those who care about how great work is actually made and want to learn more. Whether you’re a banker marking a milestone or a designer curious about craftsmanship, this site pulls back the curtain on the process behind each finished piece and the people who make it possible.

— John Hathaway, Deal Toy Expert
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