IDC Designs Awards for UK Tour Series

Tasked by the organisers of The Tour of Britain and The Tour Series, SweetSpot Group Ltd., IDC's model making specialists and product designers have collaborated to develop a unique trophy design. IDC is very familiar with the detailed product development process involved in creating an award. The company recently worked with New Pro Foundries on the high profile film and television award, BAFTA.

Vincent O'Horo, Director of IDC Models, explains, “The Tour Series is a fantastic set of ten events which sees a return to competitive cycling in Britain's towns and cities. As a new Series, we needed to produce an award that would be instantly recognizable and in line with the brand itself so that it would become iconic in the cycling world.”

The product design incorporated the brand's flagman and shield motif, curved surfaces and aluminium stands inspired by the design of cycle fittings and accessories. Translating this into a 3D form required the evolution of the logo to accommodate production techniques.

The project drew on several in-house disciplines, from design and engineering to rapid prototyping techniques, CNC, specialist model making and short run manufacture. The product designer's Viper SLA (stereolithography) machine speeded up the process by producing same-day prototypes. CAD files were converted into high quality, solid resin parts in a matter of hours, which allowed the product development team to test a variety of patterns, exploring surface textures for a greater degree of definition and style.

The trophies were produced in three different sizes and cast in phosphor bronze by New Pro Foundries for increased durability and classic design. All the teams will be competing for the trophy named after cycling industry legend and Tour Series sponsor, Bob Chicken MBE - The Bob Chicken Trophy. The large trophy will be kept by the Tour Series in a glass case, whilst six medium trophies are given out to the overall winning team at the end of the series and 60 small trophies for the winning team of each race. With the capacity for batch production, IDC made all 67 awards in-house.

The ten round Tour Series which began in Milton Keynes on 21st May 2009 and ends on Thursday 25th June in Southend-on-Sea, is also being televised by ITV. The event is aimed at teams of cyclists rather than individuals, with five riders in each team. Exeter, Woking, Peterborough, Blackpool , Southport, Stoke-on-Trent, Colchester, Chester and Southend-on-Sea will all play host to the competition which promises to bring a carnival-like atmosphere to the heart of each town and city.