Latest Trends in Trade Show Booth Design

AEM New Trends in Booth Design

2014

Jay Burkette EDPA ExpoDisplays

Traditionally larger companies have exhibited using custom displays, purpose built and tailor made for their specific needs.

As exhibiting costs escalated over the years, many exhibitors sought to reduce some of those costs by turning towards alternative types of displays.

Exhibit transportation, venue drayage, cost of ownership, maintenance of display properties, storage were combined factors in many Exhibitors seeking ways to offset some of their traditional tradeshow budget costs.

Originally conceived and served up within the European marketplace portable and modular exhibits began to be seen in domestic shows.

From their initial infancy in the domestic marketplace, modular systems, offering light weight components, modularity and changeable design / configuration as well as graphic elements began to peak the interest of the Exhibitor as a way to help control or contain tradeshow budget costs.

As exhibit designers embraced modular systems they began expanding and pressing the design envelope, moving from simple and basic designs into more creative and customized offerings.

New modular systems and innovations came in to the marketplace. Tension fabric structures as well as new systems were created. Designers began using blending modular elements as well as customized components to create truly unique exhibits – still modular in concept while retaining lighter weights.

By incorporating custom elements, modular exhibits were able to take on the look of a true purpose-built custom display, yet retain modularity and weight savings.

Modular exhibiting is alive and well and a flourishing trend on the show floor.

Exhibit flexibility can be key to any modular trade show program.

So what else is new, and exciting? New forms of lighting are appearing on the show floor and in particular LED offerings.

Technology continues to be increasingly present on the show floor. From QR codes, to tablets, Apps, interactive and the like.

RFID technology on the Show Floor

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is the wireless use of electromagnetic fields to transfer data, for the purposes of automatically identifying and tracking tags attached to objects. The tags contain electronically stored information. Some tags are powered by and read at short ranges (a few meters) via magnetic fields (electromagnetic induction). Others use a local power source such as a battery, or else have no battery but collect energy from the interrogating EM field, and then act as a passive transponder to emit microwaves or UHF radio waves (i.e., electromagnetic radiation at high frequencies). Battery powered tags may operate at hundreds of meters. Unlike a barcode, the tag does not necessarily need to be within line of sight of the reader, and may be embedded in the tracked object.Radio frequency identification (RFID) is part of the family of Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) technologies that includes 1D and 2D bar codes. RFID uses an electronic chip, usually applied to a substrate to form a label, that is affixed to a product, case, pallet or other package. The information it contains may be read, recorded, or rewritten.[1]

Wikipedia

Small RFID chip, here compared to a grain of rice, is incorporated in consumer products, and implanted in pets, for identification purposes

Bar code registration is commonOn the show floor.

RFID for the show organizer and exhibitor

Trade show organizers can benefit directly by facilitating the use of RFID technology on the show floor. Once all badges are tagged, antennas can track attendees anywhere that antennas are installed—at the show entrance, in meeting rooms, at special events.

Tried and true pre and post show marketing is also a revitalizing trend, supporting the Exhibitor’s social media / technology efforts.

Large screen imagery and theatrical effects are increasingly seen on the tradeshow or event floor.

Holograms used in exhibiting.

Graphics continue to develop on many types of substrates and surfaces.

International exhibiting (internal and external to the U.S.) continues to grow.

Green Exhibiting interest seems to be back on the rise, post recessive economy.• 56% of exhibitors understand the concept of “Zero-Waste”

exhibiting.• 31% believe “Zero-Waste” exhibiting is a realistic and attainable

goal.• But only 19% know how to determine whether a product or

supplier is Green.

More than four out of ten exhibitors have deliberately purchased a Green exhibitor exhibit-related product or service.•Graphics/Digital Signage•Booth Accessories/Furnishings•Pre- and Post-Show Marketing•Booth Properties•Lighting•Transportation/Crating•Carpeting/Flooring•Internal Operations

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Special thanks to EXHIBITOR Magazine, CEIR, EDPA, Google Images and ExpoDisplays