Academic award certificates are documents distributed by an educational institute to show that a person has completed specific educational requirements or has passed a qualification test. Award certificates should portray professional elements of design, creativity, and authenticity from the granting institution. If your organization’s goal is to design a custom award for students, begin by identifying the elements that make up the certificate. I set my template up similar to a form that gets filled out for each student. Here are some typical design elements:
- Certificate paper
- Institute name
- Full name of the award recipient
- Description of the award
- Award type (Diploma, Certificate, Achievement, Job Title, etc.)
- Seals of authority or labels
- Date of recognition
- Signature of granting authority
Determine your certificate’s message, such as institution title, professional seals of approval, institution seal, and signature block, and design these elements into a balanced, center-justified layout.
Write a short script that identifies the full name of the person receiving the certificate. For help on what to write for your award, perform an internet search for the term “certificate verbiage” and study the various wording options. Provide the signature block of the person or persons who formally asserts that the recipient has achieved the award.
Design space into the template to accommodate seals of authority or labels placed on the award. Graphic seals can be part of the template and printed on the paper or an embossed foil sticker applied after the award is printed.
See an example of a completed certificate. I know, it’s dull, but print on parchment paper and add your institute’s seal and it will look great.
Remember, the award you hand to the recipient represents your institution and may be placed with pride for all to see. Invest some time into developing a certificate for a long-lasting impression, or hire a professional to design it for you.