Honour Boards 101: From Classic Timber to Sleek Acrylic—Which Style Fits Your Organisation?

When is a plaque not a plaque? When it's an honourboard!

When it comes to recognising achievement, few things hit the mark like a well-designed honour board (slightly larger than your regular plaque). They’re equal parts tradition and storytelling—capturing names, dates, and moments that deserve to live on. Whether you’re outfitting a school, club, workplace, or community organisation, the right honour board sets the tone. Do you lean classic and ceremonial? Or clean and contemporary? Let’s break down the most popular honour board styles—traditional wood, aluminium, acrylic, and a few specialty options—so you can choose the perfect canvas for your legacy.

If honour boards had a royal family, timber would wear the crown. Traditional wood honour boards are synonymous with prestige—think school halls, clubrooms, trophy walls, and long-standing institutions.

Look and feel: Rich grains, deep stains, and gold or white signwriting give timber boards a stately presence. Popular timbers include mahogany, oak, walnut, and Australian natives like jarrah.
Customisation: Carved headers, routed edges, bevelled frames, and gilded lettering elevate the design. You can choose hand-painted or vinyl-applied lettering for names and dates. Name slats (interchangeable strips) are a great option for groups that add names annually.
Best for: Schools, sporting clubs, government buildings, heritage venues—anywhere tradition matters.

Pros:

• High-end, ceremonial aesthetic
• Ages beautifully with proper care
• Flexible layout options: panels, columns, or slats

Considerations:

• Heavier and more involved to install
• Requires periodic maintenance (polishing, occasional touch-ups)
• Can be higher cost depending on timber and finish

Aluminium is the go-to for a sleek, contemporary look. It’s lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and versatile—perfect for modern workplaces, sporting facilities, and spaces that favour clean lines over ornamentation.

Look and feel: Brushed, satin, or matte finishes with crisp laser-engraving or UV-printed graphics. Colours range from natural silver to black, bronze, champagne, and custom powder coats.
Customisation: Laser-etched text for a refined, permanent look; full-colour prints for logos and branding; modular panels that can be added as your list grows.
Best for: Corporate offices, sports facilities, universities, councils—any environment seeking a polished, contemporary aesthetic.

Pros:

• Lightweight and tough
• Low maintenance
• Excellent for high-contrast, easy-to-read layouts

Considerations:

• Cooler, more minimal aesthetic (less traditional warmth)
• Can show fingerprints on certain finishes (easily wiped)

Acrylic brings a glass-like finish without the weight or fragility. It’s the design chameleon of honour boards—capable of bold colours, floating mounts, and highly modern layouts that pop on any wall.

Look and feel: Crystal clear, frosted, or coloured sheets; polished edges; stand-off mounts create a floating effect. Great for bright, contemporary spaces.
Customisation: Reverse-print on the back for a premium, protected finish; direct UV print or applied vinyl; layered panels for depth and dimension; interchangeable name plates for ongoing recognition.
Best for: Gyms, creative studios, schools, tech offices, modern clubrooms—anywhere that appreciates a contemporary, vibrant vibe.

Pros:

• Lightweight and safe (shatter-resistant)
• Wide colour and shape options
• Budget-flexible—from simple panels to multi-layer designs

Considerations:

• Can scratch if cleaned with harsh materials—use microfiber
• Direct sun may require UV-stable inks and materials to prevent fade

Can’t decide between tradition and modernity? Hybrid designs blend materials—like a timber backboard with brushed aluminium name plates or an acrylic header with printed graphics mounted on a dark timber panel.

Why it works:

• Heritage warmth meets modern readability
• Modular: easy to add names over time
• Highly brandable: logos, colours, and fonts can be matched precisely

Great for: Clubs and schools wanting prestige without feeling dated; organisations refreshing a legacy wall.

If your honour list updates frequently—think “Player of the Year,” “Dux,” “Employee of the Month”—a changeable system keeps things crisp without replacing the entire board.
Options:Slat boards with removable strips (timber, acrylic, or metal)
Magnetic or slide-in name plates
Modular panel systems you can expand as the years roll on
Benefits:Efficient and cost-effective updates
Keeps layout consistent and neat
Ideal for annual awards such as plaques and ongoing programs 

Your lettering method changes the look and longevity of the board.
Engraving:Laser or mechanical engraving etches into timber, metal, or laminate
Permanent, refined, and professional
Can be colour-filled (e.g., gold in timber, black in aluminium)
UV Printing:Full-colour capability—perfect for logos, crests, and gradients
Fast and cost-efficient for updates
Works beautifully on acrylic and metal

A well-designed honour board is easy to read from a distance and balanced in composition.
Typography: Choose high-contrast, legible fonts. Serif fonts suit traditional timber; sans-serifs shine on metal and acrylic.
Hierarchy: Make the title and year headers distinct. Use consistent spacing between entries.
Scale: Plan space for 10+ years of additions. A little white space now avoids a cramped look later.
Mounting: Stand-off mounts for acrylic add dimension; concealed fixings keep timber elegant.
Location: Avoid harsh sunlight where possible, or spec UV-stable materials and finishes.
Where Each Style Shines
Traditional Timber:Honour Rolls, Life Members, Captains, Memorials
Heritage buildings, school halls, clubrooms
Aluminium:Corporate awards, service recognition, donor walls
High-traffic corridors, contemporary interiors
Acrylic:Student achievements, sports performance walls, sales leaderboards
Reception areas, gyms, modern learning spaces
Hybrids and Modular:Long-term programs, multiple categories, multi-year growth
Care and Maintenance
Timber: Dust with a soft cloth, polish occasionally. Avoid harsh chemicals.
Aluminium: Wipe with a non-abrasive cleaner. Microfiber cloth prevents streaks.
Acrylic: Use mild soapy water and a microfiber cloth. Avoid ammonia-based cleaners to prevent surface haze.

Ask yourself:

• What atmosphere am I creating—traditional, modern, or a blend?
• How often will names be added?
• Do I want a permanent engraved look or an easily updatable system?
• What’s the environment like—sunny, high-traffic, formal, playful?
• What’s our brand style—colours, logo, fonts?

Honour boards do more than list names—they build culture, pride, and continuity. Whether you’re drawn to the classic gravitas of timber, the polished minimalism of aluminium, or the bold clarity of acrylic, the right board will celebrate your story for years to come. And if you want the best of both worlds, hybrid and modular systems make it easy to evolve without losing the look.Want help picking materials, layout, and finishes for your space? Tell me where the board will live, how often you’ll update it, and the overall vibe you’re going for. I can recommend a design spec that nails the look—and lasts.