Non-monetary recognition like award certificates give the recipient feelings of achievement and recognition. Use the best certificate designs to leave a lasting impression.
Money isn't the only way to recognize your employees and celebrate their accomplishments. While non-monetary recognition has many forms, we’ll focus on the most popular one: certificates.
Don't just rely on cash to recognize and reward your employees. Make it more memorable. Give them award certificates they can hang on their walls or frame and display on their desks. Or combine monetary reward and non-monetary recognition into one with gift certificates.
To find the best certificate template, we’ve curated a list of the latest and most beautiful certificate design ideas for 2021. Our list includes assorted professional certificate design templates. Use them for awards, gifts, and diplomas from Envato Elements and GraphicRiver. Plus, we'll share some award certificate examples.
Top Certificate Design Templates on Envato Elements (5 Fresh Design Examples)
There are various types of award certificate design templates that'll work best for specific occasions. A simple and clean certificate is suitable to celebrate the achievements of your employees. You can also provide training or seminar completion certificates for seminars, training, or workshops they've attended.
Whether it be award certificates, gift certificates, or diplomas, here are our top picks for fresh design templates on Envato Elements:
1. Modern Certificate
Use this editable certificate template to create your certificate of appreciation with a modern aesthetic. Use its flexible design for your employee recognition, corporate events, and a lot more.
Fully editable in Photoshop, AI, and Word with 0.25 bleed, 300 dpi—this certificate template CMYK print ready. It’s also available in portrait and landscape layout.
2. Elegant Gift Certificate Template
This beautiful business gift certificate template exudes elegance and luxury. Any recipient of this gift certificate will be delighted.
The value of the gift certificate is immediately visible because it’s placed on a golden ribbon background. Plus, the sparking border won’t go unnoticed. It’s very easy to edit on Photoshop. So, customize it according to your needs.
3. Multipurpose Certificate Templates
Quickly create professional-looking certificates, from certificates of achievement to award certificates, with this multipurpose certificate design template. It's got a straightforward design, highlighting a ribbon and trophy icon.
Change the colors to match your branding preferences. Plus, choose from 12 certificate styles to suit your taste.
4. Certificate/Diploma Template Pro
This is a modern take on the diploma or certificate. It still carries the usual traditional style. But it's been amped up with modern design elements like swirls and curves. Use it for:
- certificate awards
- recognition
- qualifications
- training
- seminars
- or anything related to academic or corporate activities.
With well-organized layers, you can easily tweak this according to your preferences.
5. Abstract Certification Template
Abstract certificate designs offer exciting elements to add to your certificate of achievement or certificate of completion. This editable certificate template with abstract elements will make your certificate stand out. With clean, structured files and editable text, personalize this printable certificate template in an instant.
Envato Elements (Design Without Limits)
Sign up for Envato Elements to get unlimited access to thousands of digital assets. This includes unlimited use of graphics and templates (certificate templates too!). Choose from web themes to business presentation templates, and more—all for one low subscription price.
That’s right! Download as many certificate templates and graphics as you want. Then customize them to fit any of your project needs.
21 Best Certificate Templates Available on GraphicRiver (For 2021)
Celebrate someone's contribution or award their achievements with these 21 beautiful and most creative award certificate design templates on GraphicRiver:
1. Award Certificate
This template comes in A4 paper size. So, if you need to mail the certificate award, you can easily do so. This certificate uses four free fonts. Customize the template to suit your needs. This template is perfect for anyone looking for a traditional award certificate design.
2. Modern Certificate Template
The modern certificate has a professional design. On the certificate there's a place to add your logo. Add any image you need to by dragging and dropping the image into the image placeholder.
This template comes in landscape and portrait. So, you decide how you want the certificate to look. Edit this modern certificate template with Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator.
3. Modern Certificate Designs
This template has a modern award certificate design and is easily customizable. Add any image you want to the certificate by dragging and dropping the image into the placeholder. Use this A4 template in Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator. Choose from portrait or landscape orientation. So, select an orientation that fits what you need.
4. Clean & Professional Certificate Design
This quick and easy-to-customize template only has dotted line vectors as its design elements. It's clean look with a modern touch.
5. Modern Multipurpose Certificate Template
Here's a professional certificate template made in Photoshop. Award anyone for completing any course, training, degree, or job. It's got two color variations with customizable image and text.
6. Corporate Certificate Design
If you're going for a sleek aesthetic, use this corporate-looking printable certificate template. Choose from four different colors with a single click, to suit your visual branding.
7. Modern Gift Card Certificate
Promote your business, products, or services using this gift certificate template. Instantly convert this certificate design template for PSD into:
- a discount card
- coupon card
- gift token
- gift voucher
- gift certificate
- cash card
- and a lot more
8. Diplomas & Certificates
Stick to a traditional look with a modern finish for your diplomas and award certificates. This editable certificate template will make you stand out. Select from nine different styles, and you’re ready to print!
9. Clean PSD & MS Word Certificate Template
A PSD file and MS Word document are included in this template. Create your unique and creative certificates at your most convenient time. It's got a flexible design so you can use it for any type of certificate awards, recognitions, and more.
10. Technical Diploma and Award Certificate
Is your educational institution looking to celebrate the graduation or commencement exercises of your students? Technical Diploma is a perfect diploma design template for this. It’s PSD-file ready for printing in five different colors.
11. Gift Voucher Certificate Designs
With Photoshop and AI formats, provide a professional-looking gift certificate in a matter of seconds! It's got resizable vector elements and fully customizable text. So, make a gift certificate design that's truly your own and print it straight away.
12. Modern Dynamic Diploma - Best Award Certificate
May it be landscape or portrait format, this beautifully designed template is fully editable in Adobe Illustrator. With three different colors, you can conveniently set up a branded certificate.
13. Professional Certificate Design or Diploma Templates
Do you want to print a corporate certificate or a diploma? This highly editable Photoshop certificate design template is for you. It includes four border and background styles to choose from. So, design your diploma or certificate to your preference.
14. Educational Certificate and Diploma Template
Specially made for educational institutions, this is a smart, clear, and clean looking certificate template. It’s print ready with editable text layers and color shape layers.
15. Simple Multipurpose Certificate Template
Simple Multipurpose Certificate is a flexible certificate template. Modify it with InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, EPS, or Word. It's got a simple but bold layout that'll captivate and delight the recipients.
16. Creative Corporate Certificate Design
This has a stunning background image. This creative InDesign certificate design template is perfect for employers who want to recognize staff who attended training, seminars, or events.
17. Digital Certificate Designs
Go above and beyond with this certificate design template. It exudes creativity, fun, and digital polish. Change and customize it in Photoshop, Illustrator, or MS Word.
18. Clean and Professional Certificate Design
This certificate has an elegant black background with gold and white fonts. The design of this certificate looks fancy and professional. Customize the template to make it look how you need it to look. There's a space for your logo and company website. The name on the certificate is a nice cursive font that can be easily read.
19. Modern Certificate Template
This certificate template has a striking gold and black design. This template comes with a free font and is print ready. Choose from landscape or portrait to customize your template how you need it. Edit this template in Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator.
20. Modern Multipurpose Certificate Designs
Use this template for several certificate related purposes. It comes in A4 and US letter size and is print ready. Add any photo you want by dragging and dropping the image of your choice into the image placeholder. The certificate has an interesting textured design that looks professional.
How to Quickly Customize a Premium Certificate Template
Once you’ve found the perfect certificate template, let’s take a look at how to customize it. For the purposes of this tutorial, I’ll be using the Clean Certificates Template from Envato Elements.
Let's get started:
1. Choose Your Layout
The Clean Certificates template, like most certificate templates, comes with both a horizontal and vertical layout. So, the first step is to choose which layout you want to use. For the purposes of this tutorial, I’ll use the horizontal layout. Once you’ve decided on the layout, open it in Photoshop.
2. Enter Your Information
Before customizing anything, enter your own text to replace the dummy placeholder information. Double-click the text you want to edit, delete it, and then enter your own text. As you’re entering the text, customize the fonts by selecting the text and choosing a different font from the drop-down menu.
3. Add Your Logo
To add your logo, look for the layer named Logo. Then click on it to make sure it’s selected. You’ll notice there’s a layer that says, “double-click here to replace the logo”.
Double-click that layer, which will open it up in a new window. Then locate your logo image on your computer and drop it onto the newly-opened window. If needed, resize and reposition the logo and then close the windows. Click Save when prompted.
4. Remove or Customize the Frame
Another way to customize the certificate template is to customize the frame. You can use a different color by selecting the Frame layer and then double-clicking the layer’s thumbnail. This opens the color picker tool. Then select a new color for the frame.
Or, if you don’t want the frame, simply delete the Frame layer or click the eye icon to make it invisible.
5. Remove or Add Your Own QR Code
The last step is to add your own QR code or remove it altogether. To add your own QR code, select the QR code layer and then double-click it. It'll open in a new window. Drag and drop your own QR code image on top of it.
Resize the code, as needed. Then press X to close the window. Save when prompted. Then save and export your certificate template.
If you don’t want the QR code, delete it by deleting that layer or by clicking the eye icon on the layer to make it invisible.
5 Quick Design Tips: To Make a Great Certificate in 2021
Are you looking for a quick and easy way to raise the morale around your office? Do you need to celebrate an educational milestone? Nothing is more tangible, cost-effective, and lasting than a certificate. All recipients will truly feel that their leaders recognize their efforts and contributions.
To create a meaningful and impactful certificate to award in 2021, pay close attention to how you design your award certificates. When using the great certificate templates from Envato Elements or GraphicRiver, follow these certificate layout design tips:
1. Don't Clutter Your Certificate's Layout
You may be tempted to put a lot of information and design elements into your certificate. But this could work against you. Too much information and visual clutter distract people from the main focus of your certificate. Your certificate is to celebrate the person receiving the certificate or award.
Don't try to fit too many things on your professional certificate design at once. Leave some white spaces between words and design elements.
White spaces are a great way to better organize content and balance design elements. They separate paragraphs of text, graphics, and other portions of your certificate while helping your certificate look less crowded.
If you keep your certificate less crowded, it allows the reader to find the information they’re interested in much quicker. Thus, improving the visual communication experience. Otherwise, you’ll risk your certificate looking unprofessional and disorganized.
2. To Use or Not to Use Borders
Almost all traditional certificates in the past had borders. But because of changing trends in graphic design, the question of whether to use a border or not to use one has become a matter of personal preference.
The key is to understand what the certificate is for. To use a border, theme it appropriately according to the nature of the recognition. You can’t randomly use a border, especially if it'll clash your main goal and professional certificate design. But some borders have timeless and versatile styles. These will work for multipurpose certificate designs.
3. Brand the Certificate
Branding is also one of the most essential design tips when creating a great and effective certificate. You want the people receiving the certificate or diploma to remember your company or institution for many years.
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Your company’s logo should appear on your certificates. But branding doesn’t end there. When choosing an appropriate color scheme for your certificate, keep your branding guidelines in mind. Use your brand colors and apply them accordingly to your professional certificate design. Most creative certificate design templates have a variety of color schemes to choose from to match your visual branding.
4. Design Your Certificate With Typography
Typography is often overlooked when it comes to designing certificates. But it's essential to communicate your content and your visuals more effectively. Typography is the art and technique of arranging the letters or characters of your certificates or diplomas. It includes the proper usage of font styles, font sizes, and typographical emphasis like bold, italic, or underline.
As much as possible, aim to use only one or two font styles. Readability should be your top priority. It’s also important to assign different font sizes for the different text types in your certificate. For example, the recipient’s name should have a big font size compared to other content, for emphasis.
5. Bring Your Certificate to Life With Images and Icons
Usually, it's recommended to stay away from using a background image in your certificate. Not only does it make the certificate less readable, but it might also add to the visual clutter. But there are exceptions to this. For example, by ensuring that there's enough contrast between the background and the text, you may avoid this problem.
As an alternative to having a background image, use a small image that can appear as borders. You can also add appropriate icons like stars, trophies, or ribbons for award certificate templates.
5 Top Certificate Design Styles for 2021
Customizing your template is only the first step towards making sure your certificate stands out. To make sure your certificate looks professional and polished, here are top five design styles to keep in mind:
1. Both Vertical and Horizontal Layout Are In
You don’t have to stick to a purely horizontal or vertical layout. Both layouts are trendy and give you plenty of design freedom.
2. Bold Colors Are Trendy
If you opt for a certificate template that uses colors, ensure they’re bold and bright. These color schemes are trendy now, which will make your certificate look contemporary.
3. Simple Design Makes the Content Stand Out
Your certificate doesn’t have to be elaborate and intricate. Use this simple design that looks elegant and timeless for any occasion.
4. Stick to Two Fonts
Make sure your certificate is easy to read by sticking to two fonts at the most. You could use a simple sans-serif font paired with a more ornate script font for the recipient’s name and produce an elegant looking certificate.
5. Try an Off-White or a Neutral Color Background
Consider using an off-white or a neutral color background. This will give your certificate a more polished look and make it stand out from the rest.
10 Times to Use a Certificate
If you don't use certificates in your business already, you should consider doing so. Use them to recognize achievements and bolster employee morale. Here are 10 award certificate examples:
1. Completed Training
If you're a manager and an employee finished their training, then you can give them a certificate of completion. This certificate is great for rewarding training that takes a long time or helps them advance in their career. When you give an employee a certificate, it lets them know that you recognize their effort.
2. Employee of the Month
Giving an employee who's been working hard a certificate enables the employee to know that their hard work is appreciated. This recognition doesn't have to be limited to just the employee of the month. Recognize any employee who's completed a really tough project.
3. Contest Winner
If you had a contest in your company, give the winners the best award certificate along with their prize. An award certificate gives them something to display proudly in their office our home.
4. Perfect Attendance
Is there an employee who's never missed a day? Is there an employee who works long hours? Award them for this achievement by giving them a certificate of perfect attendance award. Giving a perfect attendance certificate award lets your employees know that you see their great attendance. You're acknowledging that it's important.
5. Big Seller Award
If you're in the sales business, award people for high sales. This can be an awards certificate for that employee who sells the most over time. The sales award certificate could also be for an employee who lands a really big single sale for the company. Let the employee know you appreciate their selling expertise.
6. Retirement Award
Do you have an employee who's retiring soon? Let the employee know you appreciate the work they did for the company. Give them a retirement award for all their hard work and years of achievement with the company.
7. Volunteer Recognition
Does your company rely on the help of volunteers? Or do your employees volunteer in the community? Is there a group or a volunteer who always helps, no matter what? Give them an award certificate to show them you appreciate their hard work.
8. Team Awards
If your company relies on teams, then there's probably a team that works best and excels at their work. Reward that team with an award or certificate, letting them know you appreciate their teamwork.
9. Welcome Awards
Another occasion to use certificates is when you're hiring new employees. Let them know that they're welcome at your company by giving them a welcome award. This will make them feel welcome and ease any nervousness they may have about starting a new job.
10. Safety Award
Does your company require safety to get the job done? Reward that employee who goes out of their way to maintain a safe work environment for everyone. This encourages other employees to be safe as well. And it also shows the employee that you appreciate their efforts to maintain a safe work environment.
More Great Certificate Template Designs
The above is a small selection of our certificate template designs from Envato Elements and GraphicRiver. To see even more great certificate template designs, check out the following posts:
19 Most Creative Certificate Design Templates (Modern Styles for 2021)
20 Best Word Certificate Template Designs to Award Achievement in 2021
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25+ Best PowerPoint Certificate Templates (Free PPT + Premium for 2021)
Where to Find the Best Certificate Design Templates in 2021 (Envato Elements vs. GraphicRiver)
Envato Elements and GraphicRiver are both great sources if you're in the market for the templates with the best design for certificates. Both offer these same benefits:
- professionally-designed certificate templates that are easy to customize and personalize
- certificate templates in formats editable on Photoshop, Illustrator, Microsoft Word, or PowerPoint
- massive library of other design assets you may need to make your vision come true, such as fonts, photos, icons, and graphics
Either Elements or GraphicRiver may be the better option for you. To help you decide, let's take a look at the key benefits of each one:
1. Key Benefits of Envato Elements
Elements is a marketplace for digital assets created by professionals from all over the world. Its vast library is available on a subscription basis for a low monthly fee. Its benefits are:
- unlimited downloads of all the assets in the library, including stock videos, sound effects, music, and web templates
- one simple license with broad commercial rights, so you can use any asset confidently for both personal and work projects
Envato Elements is the best choice if you create multiple projects regularly and need several digital assets all the time. With Elements' unlimited downloads, the subscription fee is much lower compared to what it would cost you to pay for each asset separately.
2. Key Benefits of GraphicRiver
Unlike Elements, GraphicRiver isn't a subscription service. Its key benefits include:
- pay-as-you-go model means you only pay for each use of a digital asset
- choice of either regular or extended license so you can select the most appropriate one for your end product
Because you only pay for every single use of a creative asset, GraphicRiver is the best source for occasional projects. There are no ongoing monthly commitments.
Your Choice (What's Right for You?)
If you're a digital marketer or a graphic or web designer with many clients, then Envato Elements is the best value for you. Sign up now.
But if you need a single unique certificate design, then head over to Envato Market to find what you need.
Common Certificate Questions Answered (FAQ)
If you're looking to create a certificate with a template, you may have a few questions. In this section, we've collected the most commonly asked questions about creating certificates with some of our best answers:
1. How Do I Create a Certificate in Word?
The best way to create a certificate in Word is by starting with a professionally designed template. That way, the biggest design decisions have already been made for you. Here are some of the best Word certificate templates we've found:
2. Are There Certificate Templates for PowerPoint?
Yes, you can find many certificate templates for PowerPoint, both premium and free. The best ones are fully editable, which means you've got total control over how the end-result will look—no designer skills required!
3. Where Can I Find Free Certificate Templates?
In this post, you've discovered some of the best premium certificate templates for awards, gifts, and diplomas. If you really need free certificate templates, we've rounded up our finds here:
4. How Do I Edit a Certificate Template in Word?
Word's robust features allow you to customize, personalize, and get the certificate template to look as you wish. You can find a detailed tutorial on how to use Microsoft Word templates below:
5. Are There Certificate Templates for Google Docs?
Yes, many certificate templates for Google Docs are available. Thanks to its free availability and ease of use, Google Docs is becoming an increasingly popular tool for creating certificates. Below are the best free and premium certificate templates for Google Docs that we've found:
Learn More About Creating Certificates
Want to create standout certificates that recipients will be proud to show off for years to come? Then you'll like the following articles that go into various aspects of designing and related topics.
- certificates19 Most Creative Certificate Design Templates (Modern Styles for 2021)
Adobe PhotoshopHow to Make a Gift Certificate (With or Without Photoshop!).jpg)
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BusinessHow to Create a Positive Work Environment for Your Business
ManagementHow to Build Employee Loyalty (And Why It Matters)
Create Tangible and Lasting Memories With an Award Certificate Today
Creating your professional certificates for awards, gifts, or diplomas doesn’t have to be stressful. Use the large collection of certificate design templates from Envato Elements to select the best certificates suited for your brand, objectives, and needs.
Plus, get more editable certificate templates from GraphicRiver. Easily customize them for a positive impact on your employee recognition or educational programs. An award certificate makes it easier for you to create a meaningful and lasting celebration of your people’s hard work and achievements.
Editorial Note: This post has been updated with contributions from Sarah Joy, Brenda Barron, and Alexis Rodrigo. Sarah, Brenda, and Alexis are freelance instructors for Envato Tuts+.
Envato Tuts+ tutorials are translated into other languages by our community members—you can be involved too!
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