Deal Toy Expert, by John Hathaway
Deal toys,
understood.
The ideas, materials and making behind meaningful custom commemoratives. Practical guidance from a designer who has been doing the work since 1997.
Start with the essentials
What is a deal toy?
A deal toy is a physical commemorative created for a transaction or business milestone. Financial tombstone and deal marker are also common names.
The piece may mark an acquisition, financing, public offering, fund closing or property transaction. Its design can draw on the asset, company, product or people involved.
Make informed decisions
Three ways into the subject.
01 / Design
Begin with the achievement.
What should the piece represent, and which details deserve emphasis?
Read the guide →
02 / Materials
Give the idea a physical form.
Compare visual effects, construction methods and material tradeoffs.
Read the guide →
03 / Making
Understand how it is made.
Follow the process from stock material to a polished crystal piece.
Read the guide →
A designer’s perspective
The idea.
The material.
The making.
I’ve learned to think about the idea and its production together. Time in a Lucite factory changed the questions I asked, the details I noticed and the conversations I could have with the people making the pieces.
This publication shares that practical perspective: what different materials can do, where a design can lose its effect, and how to make the process easier for the person ordering it.
Inside the workshop
Four materials. Different possibilities.
Manufacturing
How Lucite deal toys are made
Casting, suitable embedments, curing and polished surfaces.
Read the guide →
Manufacturing
How crystal deal toys are made
Cutting, edgework, printing and internal laser engraving.
Read the guide →
Manufacturing
How resin deal toys are made
Models, molds, sculptural detail and painted finishes.
Read the guide →
Manufacturing
How metal deal toys are made
Casting, machining, surface finishes and assembly.
Read the guide →Questions, answered.
Who writes Deal Toy Expert?
John Hathaway, a deal toy designer since 1997 and a contributor to GRAPHICS PRO. His work combines creative direction with firsthand manufacturing experience.
Can you help with a commissioned project?
Yes. John works with clients and the Polaris Custom Awards creative team on custom deal toys and recognition pieces. Share your brief through the contact page or start a project with Polaris.
Do I need a finished design to begin?
No. The occasion, recipient group, approximate quantity, delivery date and budget provide a useful starting point.
Put the ideas to work
Have a deal worth remembering?
Share the achievement, audience, quantity, timing and budget. You do not need a finished concept.
Ask John a question →For commissioned projects, I work with the creative team at Polaris Custom Awards.