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NPS Foundation

Dedicated to advancing education and opportunity, the NPS Foundation empowers Naval Postgraduate School students and faculty through strategic partnerships and targeted support — strengthening innovation, leadership, and national security across its academic and operational network.

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Creation
Custom Award
Material
Metal + Crystal
Program
Donor Partner Recognition

Inspired by this Custom Award?

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NPS Foundation Overview

Overview + IDEA

NPS partnered with Cristaux to create a recognition piece that would reflect the company’s brand identity and elevate the significance of its awards program. With a strong emphasis on innovation and visual impact, NPS sought a design that would stand apart from conventional recognition pieces and embody the values of excellence and distinction.
Rather than opting for a traditional metal base, Cristaux leaned into NPS’s signature blue branding to guide the design direction. This led to the development of a striking blue crystal foundation, enhanced by a mirrored element that refracted light and showcased the sail-shaped centerpiece in a dynamic and elegant way. Every detail—from the crystal personalization to the structural engineering—was carefully considered to ensure the award felt both premium and purposeful.
To complete the experience, Cristaux designed custom blue gift boxes that aligned seamlessly with NPS’s brand, creating a cohesive and memorable presentation. The final piece was more than an award—it was a symbol of achievement, crafted to honor recipients with a sense of pride and lasting recognition.

NPS Foundation Gallery Photo Image 1
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14Lbs

The weight of the finished piece

CHALLENGES

During the creation of NPS’s custom award, Cristaux faced a series of intricate design and engineering challenges that demanded both creativity and precision. At first glance, the piece evokes the feel of a statue, yet its construction diverges in subtle but significant ways. One of the primary concerns was ensuring the delicate sail elements remained intact during transit. To prevent bending or breakage, the central pillar was engineered with added thickness, providing a sturdy foundation for soldering the sails securely.
Soldering itself required exceptional attention to detail. The goal was to achieve a flawless finish, concealing any imperfections and maintaining the award’s refined aesthetic. Beyond structural integrity, personalization posed another unique challenge. The crystal portion of the award was directly etched with recipient details, but once the sail was mounted, traditional sandblasting methods risked damaging the metal components. To overcome this, Cristaux developed a specialized technique to apply personalization without compromising the integrity or appearance of the finished piece.
These thoughtful solutions not only preserved the elegance of the design but also showcased Cristaux’s commitment to craftsmanship and innovation.

NPS Foundation Gallery Photo 2
NPS Foundation Gallery Photos 3
Gallary Photo's NPS Foundation
The Creation Image NPS Foundation

The Creation

For NPS’s custom award, Cristaux set out to create a piece that was both visually striking and deeply reflective of the brand’s identity. While a metal base was initially considered, the team pivoted to a more refined solution that embraced NPS’s signature blue. This led to the integration of a vibrant blue crystal base, designed not only to align with the brand’s color palette but also to enhance the overall presentation through light refraction. A mirrored element was strategically placed within the base to amplify the visual impact, allowing the sail-shaped centerpiece to be beautifully displayed from every angle.
Personalization was etched directly onto the crystal, but incorporating these details presented a unique challenge. Once the sail was mounted, traditional sandblasting methods risked damaging the metal components. To overcome this, Cristaux engineered a specialized approach that preserved the integrity of the award while ensuring each recipient’s name was flawlessly rendered.
To complete the experience, each award was delivered in custom-designed blue gift boxes, crafted to reflect NPS’s branding and elevate the unboxing moment. The result was a cohesive and premium recognition piece that celebrated achievement with elegance and innovation.

 

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