The International Center of Photography (ICP) is the host of the Infinity Awards, an annual event that recognizes and celebrates major contribution and emerging talent in the fields of photojournalism, art, fashion photography and publishing.
To commemorate the moment of recognition in a custom trophy, the ICP works with Society Awards, the world’s most prestigious awards manufacturing company.
Here’s how Society Awards captures the world’s attention with the Infinity Awards Trophy.
What is the Internation Center of Photography?
The International Center of Photography is the leading institution dedicated to photography and visual culture, founded by famed photographer Cornell Capa.
After the deaths of his brother Werner Bischof and fellow colleagues Robert Capa and David Seymour, Cornell set out to keep their work in humanitarian documentary in the public eye. He championed "concerned photography," or social and politically minded images that educate and change the world.
In 1966, he would create the International Fund for Concerned Photography to do just that. The Fund, however, would need a home, and in 1974 Cornell Capa would establish the International Center of Photography that we know today.
Since then, it has brought the works of over 3,000 photographers and 700 exhibits to the public eye, as well as provided classes and hosted events, all to create "an open forum for dialogue about the power of the image. "
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"Photography is demonstrably the most contemporary of art forms. It is the most vital, effective, and universal means of communication of facts and ideas between peoples and nations."
Cornell Capa, Photographer and ICP Founder
Over a decade later, in 1985, the ICP created the Infinity Awards, furthering the mission of bringing public attention to outstanding achievements in photography and identifying future luminaries. To recognize such achievements, the ICP turned to prestigious photographer and designer Fabien Baron to design what would become an iconic trophy.
Inside the Designer: Fabien Baron
Vanity Fair calls Fabien Baron “the most sough-after creative director in the world.” A perfect match for the most sought-after trophy designer & manufacturer in the world.
Founder of the renowned designer and ad-agency, Baron & Baron, Fabien Baron is known for his genre defining work in fashion, cosmetics, and fragrance branding for the world’s most influential brands. His portfolio is filled with award-winning campaigns, magazine redesigns, film, industrial design, and, of course, photography. His diverse creativity and uncontainable passion set the course and inspire originality and innovation in all his pursuits.
This experience in the arts and culture resulted in an art deco interpretation of the infinity symbol that feels simultaneously timeless and modern.
Creating Infinity in a Moment: The ICP Infinity Award
Society Awards is no stranger to the responsibility of creating high-end custom trophies for art organizations. Since 2007, we've partnered with the ICP to bring their iconic award to life, a collaboration built on trust, consistency, and an uncompromising standard of craft.
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Working in close alignment with Baron's original design, Society Awards harmonized and simplified the production, while still improving the overall quality of each trophy. The Infinity Award is hand-finished by our skilled artisans, with careful attention to the delicate acrylic, the precision of the infinity form, and the quality of the polished surface.
Starting in 2019, a metal cylinder base was added to accommodate name plates and provide added stability, allowing for a personalized touch that makes each trophy uniquely the recipient's own.
The stunning 12in tall black Lucite Acrylic award with a hand-polished shine coupled with an art deco interpretation of the infinity symbol makes this a sculpture worthy of museum exhibition.
40 Years of Honoring Photography's Best: Infinity Award Recipients
The 2026 Honorees of the Infinity Award have already been announced ahead of the event, with their works put on in exhibition leading up to the ceremony. Congratulations to the 2026 Honorees:
- Joel Meyerowitz -Lifetime Achievement Award
- Haruka Sakaguchi -Documentary Practice and Visual Journalism Award
- Betty Catroux -Image Icon Award
- Collier Schorr -Commercial and Editorial Photography Award
- Tarrah Krajnak -Photographic Art and New Media Award
Past Infinity Award attendees include Hailey Baldwin, Hamish Bowles, Hugh Jackman, Naomi Campbell, Grace Coddington, Bella Hadid, Carolina Herrera, Arianna Huffington, Karlie Kloss, Alexandra Richards, Leelee Sobieski, and Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor.
Honoring the Standard That Defines Creative Excellence
The ICP Infinity Award represents everything that great recognition should be; purposeful in design, precise in execution, and worthy of the achievements it honors. For two decades, Society Awards has been proud to bring that standard to life alongside the International Center of Photography, ensuring that every trophy reflects the weight of the moment it marks.
For organizations looking to create or refine a recognition program that meets that same standard, Society Awards offers the expertise, craftsmanship, and collaborative process to make it possible. Whether you are working from an existing design or building something entirely new, our team is ready to bring your vision to life with the care it deserves into every aspect of collaboration, design, materials, manufacturing, and delivery.
To get started on a custom award for a ceremony, accolade, recognition program, or more, please contact our concierge here or at (212) 845-9980 .
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