Booth Design Guidelines

Your Booth is a representation of your brand, company and product. Your booth design should tell your design story and capture the attendee’s imagination. Design your booth with the IDS market of trade professionals + design savvy consumers in mind.

When accepting applications IDS curators look for the following: Product should be:• Innovative.• New to market.• Fulfills a need and is applicable.

Booth Design and showcase should:• Show overall creativity, innovation and originality.• Illustrates the power of the product or service.• Messaging, does it tell a design story?• Use of color, lighting, materials and scale.• Ease of access, traffic flow and effective use of space.

Questions to ask yourself when designing a booth that will attract the right audience: • Is your design innovative? • Can you create an immersive and engaging experience? • Less descriptive and sales oriented, and more design focused.• Editing. Less is more. Do not overwhelm your space with too much. This will detract people from entering your booth.• Can you show the process behind the design? • Are your products in your space original design? Ensure they are not reiterations or copies as this is not accepted at IDS. • Tell your design story.• Show A&D community that you are speaking their language. This is not a typical trade show and you have an opportunity to set yourself apart from your competition.

Over

53,000 people with a need

and project in mind pay to attend. This is a

captive audience so put your best foot forward.

FlooringA. Must be finished.

B. Approved: hardwood, cork, laminate, tile.

C. Carpet is used in IDS Contract, however we don’t recommend for IDS Main Hall unless this is a product you

are selling. We recommend vinyl, hardwood or tile for kitchen and bath displays in IDS Main.

D. Beware of trip hazards: use contrasting colours to aisle carpet. See exhibitor kit for ramp guidelines

and regulations about adhering to the convention floor.

LightingLighting is mandatory.

Good lighting is key to making an impact and standing out.

A. Ensure your space is professionally lit.

B. Consider: highbays or spotlights (showtech).

C. Reminder that we lower light levels on opening night.

FinishesA. Booths should look polished and

have clean lines.

B. Pay attention to paint, wall finishes and trim.

ColourA. Colour is a cost effective way to create impact.

B. Chose a colour palate to model your booth design around.

C. Neutral backgrounds can make colouful products pop, dramatic walls can make neutrals stand

out and tone on tone creates an overall impact.

Signage & Logo TreatmentA. This is a design show and it’s important to think about integrating your brand and name into your booth design in a meaningful way. This is not the venue for loud show signs advertising “deals” or “specials”. Tell your design story.

B. No roll up signage, plastic banners or fabric modular pop up displays. Do not clutter your booth with logos or tag lines.

C. You have 3-5 seconds to make an impression. Clearly communicate what you have to offer.

D. Reminder that no overhead banners are permitted. Installations and lighting are welcome.

Product DisplayA. Do not clutter or pack your booth with product.

B. Do not create barriers to entry.

C. If your space is enclosed, think about traffic flow.

DelineationA. All inline, corner and peninsula spaces

require 10 foot tall walls between neighbors. Island spaces have creative freedom.

B. Think beyond hard walls as a way to delineate your space.

C. Use colour blocking on walls and floors to create vignettes or moments.

D. Use fabric or other materials that allow the attendee to see through.

Create an Experience

A. Are you creating original content with your space?

B. Involve the attendee in the creation of content within your exhibit space.

C. Show the process behind the design of the product.

CollaborationCollaborate with an architect and designer on the

design and execution of your exhibit space. This can help you tell your design story, create an

exhibit that speaks directly to the trade audience and garner more opportunities for PR.

Immersive, Engaging & Tactile

Activate your space and bring it to life. How can the attendee interact with your product?

Less Is more. EDIT!

Show the Design Process

Canadian ContentWe have aligned with a global PR firm this year to tell the

global community about design in Canada. Tell the IDS team about your Canadian design story. Incorporate

this story into the design of your booth.

SustainabilityIDS has a sustainability mandate and will be

creating a sustainability report post show. We all have a responsibility towards building more sustainable

exhibits and telling attendees how your products and manufacturing are sustainable.

A. Can your booth be used again? Is it modular? What will happen to your exhibit after the show?

B. Can you tell your sustainable story as a company in the design of your booth? Have you told the

IDS team how your company is sustainable?