IM Triathlon
Phu Quoc 2024
Phu Quoc 2024
Creative
Rice Studios
Scope of work
Product Design
Art Direction
3D Visualization
Asset
Quixel Megascan
Rice Studios
Scope of work
Product Design
Art Direction
3D Visualization
Asset
Quixel Megascan
The IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series is the world’s premier half-distance triathlon series consisting of over 150 qualifying races in 50+ countries, regions and territories across the world.
In 2024, the triathlon took place in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, and I had the chance to work with the team at Rice to design the event’s medal. Inspired by the identity “The Pearl of Phu Quoc,” we wanted the medal to feel like something you might find naturally by the sea—almost like an ammonite shaped over time by waves and sand.
That idea became the starting point of the design process. What makes the medal special is its form: a continuous spiral that begins on the front and flows into the back, pulling the eye toward the center. This unbroken line represents the endurance and strength of the athletes as they push through the race, capturing both movement and determination in a single shape.
In 2024, the triathlon took place in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, and I had the chance to work with the team at Rice to design the event’s medal. Inspired by the identity “The Pearl of Phu Quoc,” we wanted the medal to feel like something you might find naturally by the sea—almost like an ammonite shaped over time by waves and sand.
That idea became the starting point of the design process. What makes the medal special is its form: a continuous spiral that begins on the front and flows into the back, pulling the eye toward the center. This unbroken line represents the endurance and strength of the athletes as they push through the race, capturing both movement and determination in a single shape.
Process
The making process for this medal was surprisingly unique. I started with the idea of creating a smooth, continuous spiral that runs from the front of the medal to the back. Using a spline wrap with a helix as the base, I wrapped a long rectangular shape along it—but the result didn’t feel truly continuous. After a few trials, I realized the solution was to taper both ends of the rectangle, which finally gave the spiral a clean, uninterrupted flow. I also played with the banking on both sides to create a stronger spiral-down illusion. Once the form felt right, the event text was pressed onto the surface so it followed the curve naturally.
With the design taking shape, I worked with the production team at Rice to bring the medal into the real world. We started by 3D-printing the first prototype, reviewing its look and feel before fine-tuning the final form. The finished medal was made using an iron-casting process and coated with a pearl-like finish, refering back to the identity of Phu Quoc.
With the design taking shape, I worked with the production team at Rice to bring the medal into the real world. We started by 3D-printing the first prototype, reviewing its look and feel before fine-tuning the final form. The finished medal was made using an iron-casting process and coated with a pearl-like finish, refering back to the identity of Phu Quoc.
