Designed as a gateway to the city of theme parks, the Visit Orlando exhibit was a destination in itself at the U.S. Travel Association's IPW Conference. Its oversized archway the color of Dreamsicles and a fairyland of whimsical LED lighting, which Visit Orlando calls "magical pixie dust," makes it an avatar for the wonders of Disney World, SeaWorld, and Universal all in one place. And thanks to BeMatrix USA's modular system, the booth can transform from 200 to 2,000 square feet faster than Harry Potter can cast a spell.

However, promoting exciting outdoor adventures in an indoor venue takes Herculean effort, and The Freeman Co. LLC (Freeman), which designed and fabricated the booth, succeeded expertly. Towering structures and a lighted roller-coaster track attracted thrill-seekers from across the show floor. And those who completed their quests not only discovered a whole new world, but also were rewarded with a photo op inside a branded roller-coaster car. Few visitors kept their hands inside the car at all times.

The phrase "show, don't tell" was fully embraced by Visit Orlando. Eighteen-foot-tall LED back walls displayed videos proving Orlando's status as a must-see destination. Partners or potential customers enchanted by the magic of Orlando had plenty of private or semi-private space where they could talk away from the delighted chatter of booth visitors.

From apples to the star Aldebaran, spheres are perhaps nature's most popular shape. To create a winning conceptual design that conveyed the impression of a company with a worldwide reach whose products are earth-friendly, Blink Charging Co. and Skyline Exhibits LLC followed this exact universal design in what one judge lauded as a "simple, yet disruptive use of asymmetrical architecture." The global developer of charging equipment and a charging network for electric vehicles envisioned a sphere as the central visual element placed atop a circular inlay whose green hue is now almost a universal language signifying eco-friendliness. While attendees would talk with staffers inside the intriguing transparent geodesic dome, other guests could peruse the booth's high-impact printed fabric graphics with LED and backlit elements and a large, angled video wall. More than gratuitous tinsel, the globe and its interactive, gamified features would also have given guests the chance to discover the company's presence all over the planet, leaving Blink on top of the world.

Parking lots don't often conjure images of boldly going where no one has gone before in outer space. But Sierra Space Corp. and Condit Exhibits LLC found a way to launch an out-of-this-world adventure at the 2022 International Consumer Electronics Show. In its 40-by-50-foot exhibit located in the Central Plaza outside the Las Vegas Convention Center, the aerospace company placed a life-size model of its Dream Chaser resupply ship that's meant to service the International Space Station. Accompanying the sleek ship was a large cutaway model of the LIFE (Large Integrated Flexible Environment) habitat that can be flown on a conventional rocket into space, where it then inflates into a thr ee-story-tall structure. Making full use of the BeMatrix b62 frame system, there was enough space for guests to wander and let their imaginations soar as high as satellites. "The space is massive," remarked one judge, "but that's conducive to the immense scale of outer space itself."

The Monster Energy Co. booth at the National Association of Convenience Stores was about as badass as a Kiss concert, minus the pyrotechnics. Everything about it was aggressive, beginning with four gigantic walls that ran parallel to each other in the exhibit, canted forward so that they seemed to loom over the trade show floor. A canopy connected the walls and sloped toward the center where it supported an LED screen shaped like an inverted pyramid. The effect was such that the architecture at the front of the 70-by-70-foot exhibit looked unmistakably like an angular version of the energy-drink company's M-shaped logo. The front of the tilted walls glowed with green LED strips from top to bottom, drawing attendees into the space. Each wall supported up to two 180-inch LED screens that showcased the brand's latest innovations and sizzle reels. A large LED model of a can in the front corner of the booth scrolled through the brand's offerings.

Inside, visitors sampled the company's energy drinks while they immersed themselves in the brand's raucous, fast-paced culture by checking out dirt bikes, a souped-up muscle car, and even a UFC Octagon. "It's on brand in so many ways – from its intimidating larger-than-life scale to its dynamically canted stance," one judge said. "This environment embodies all aspects of Monster energy drink and its lifestyle and culture." Steel Panther, the comedic monsters of metal, even took over the booth for a while.

With all the party in the front, you'd be forgiven for thinking that it would be all business in back. But you'd be at least half wrong. Yes, the rear of the exhibit hosted a double-deck structure with semiprivate and private meeting spaces. But the dimly lit space, black walls, and pops of ghoulish green remained very much on brand. The darkened custom meeting rooms, equipped with RFID-activated presentations, throbbed with the same bold energy present throughout the rest of the space, and large screens showed branded content. You'd need a caffeine-infused energy drink if you didn't already know whose space it was, but Monster made it glaringly clear anyway with a glowing 30-foot-wide header that boldly announced who was in charge.

reading up to the 2022 Veterinary Meeting and Expo, Nestlé Purina PetCare Co. desired to convey a contemporary, elevated, and educational look – no easy task for a familiar century-old leader in the pet-food industry. The stand also needed to be scalable for future shows ranging from a 10-by-10 to a 30-by-60-foot island. Oh, and one more thing: The exhibit had to house as many as five separate engagements.

Exhibit Concepts Inc. made that difficult challenge seem like a walk in the dog park by marrying Purina's iconic yet humble checkered logo with a refreshingly sophisticated image, beginning with a ceiling structure that seemed to generate its own gravity. The bold header comprised a series of 10-foot-square backlit panels that were suspended just 10 feet off the floor and alternated between brand imagery and product shots.

The interior delivered on the engagements, featuring an interactive grid of spot- lighted shelves, a theater experience, a trivia game, and more. The 100-year-old company showed that you can, indeed, teach an old dog new tricks.

classic Exhibits Inc., a manufacturer of portable, modular, and custom hybrid displays, launched its new logo and branding at the 2022 EXHIBITORLIVE show. Attendees couldn't miss the 8-foot-tall white stylized "C" featuring a red triangle nested inside the letter's opening – illuminated with halo LED lighting – that occupied nearly half of the booth's back wall. The logo, and especially the triangle element, was used to utter perfection throughout the company's exhibit. Triangles are often used as a symbol of creativity, innovation, and progressive thought, all characteristics featured around the 20-by-30-foot stand.

The angular design was a motif throughout the space from the dimensional logo to the header, graphic panels, and architectural elements, which created a cohesive look across the environment. Complementary themes, colors, and shapes inside the space led one judge to describe their eye as "dancing joyfully around the booth." Panels were emblazoned with a casual invitation to attendees: "Let's Talk." Visitors who took booth staff up on their invitation were invited to a conversation nook with a table that incorporated an LED screen that displayed the company's logo. One juror said this booth truly "captured the imagination."

aluvision Inc.'s booth at EXHIBITORLIVE 2022 stood out to our judges because the displays didn't just illustrate the organization's product – it was the product. Aluvision is the developer of a modular-framing system that creates straight or curved walls, which can be covered with fabric or LED tiles. The company also recently introduced modular meeting environments, suitable for indoor or outdoor use. And Aluvision's adept use of floor space allowed designers to pack all of these powerful elements into a modest island. One judge described the booth as a "mesmerizing use of technology, color, and motion." Aluvision showed off its wares in myriad ways, beginning with its curved Hi-LED tunnel that has become a hallmark design element for the company, and which had an angular counterpart on another side of the booth. One juror appreciated the "unique and interesting use of geometry that sets their use of LED tiles apart from all other exhibits." That juxtaposition of round and straight was especially present in the center of the booth, which featured a curved tower with three large irregularly stacked LED blocks. Elsewhere, attendees found one of the company's event boxes, serving as a meeting room with slatted walls that provided a modicum of privacy while giving passersby a peek into the meetings happening within at the bar-height conference table. Aluvision expertly showed the versatility of its products by blending angular design with curved elements. Overall, our jurors called the entirety a "stunning booth experience."

subaru of America Inc. wanted attendees to perceive the brand as something "more than a car company" at the 2021 Los Angeles International Auto Show. The automaker accomplished that ambition with an exhibit one judge praised as, "An impeccable example of how all brands should incorporate technology." With Exhibit Works Inc. (dba EWI Worldwide) riding shotgun, it created an immersive stand where the technology bordered on magic. Multiple image-capturing devices followed attendees throughout the vast space, rendering their likenesses as silhouettes in real-time via three separate projectors attached to the exhibit's walls. Whether it was exploring a cave with stalactites the purple hue of a king's robe or hiking a riverbed that was actually a custom LCD screen shaped like a flowing water-way, guests could use their digital doppelgangers in a variety of ways. Some virtually planted trees and watched them sprout while others diverted waste from landfills by placing garbage in recycling receptacles – actions communicating Subaru is more green than gas-guzzling. After cleaning up the land, visitors added ribbons of light via arm gestures to the mind-altering splendor of the aurora borealis in the night sky. All the while a pair of scent machines breathed the sharp tang of balsam pines into the air, and a custom audio track whirled the sounds of a running river, birds chirping, and the wind itself into the space where technology transformed the booth into an enchanted forest.

by tasking Mirror Show Management Inc. with subbing out heavy, labor-intensive wooden box frames for lightweight panels and fabrics, PepsiCo Inc. reduced shipping, drayage and labor expenses. And not only did the move save money, it produced an arresting booth that received rave reviews from judges, who called the design "exciting," "modern, yet approachable," and "visually dynamic." The bright colors, bold graphics, and clever use of lighting drew attendees from across the show floor. Constructed using BeMatrix and Moss components, the open floor plan "breathed," as one juror described it. Fabric booths, if not carefully designed, can feel one- dimensional. However, the strategic use of accent lighting and pan channel letters in the stand added a critical sense of depth and brought the PepsiCo's content to life. One judge said that the "thoughtful juxtaposition of perpendicular and diagonally oriented functional areas" made the booth particularly inviting.

it's pretty easy for cyber-security companies to have digital tunnel vision – getting so caught up in blockchain-based, two-step verification that they forget about the human connection. At the RSA Conference, cybersecurity- platform firm Axonius Inc. avoided becoming another one of those cyborgs by tapping Hill & Partners Inc. to design a booth that was anything but cold and calculating. The 30-by-30-foot island needed ample space for product demos and casual mingling as well as a private studio to record podcasts. Balancing all that can get complex. However, Axonius was in the midst of its "Control Complexity" campaign, based on how real people overcome complexity and adversity, not unlike how cybersecurity attempts to control the byzantine digital world. So Hill & Partners leaned into the challenge presented by its client. The resulting design was as warm as it was functional.

On the ground level, the company softened its digital demos with ample warm wood, bright lighting, and open space, all of which created a welcoming space with plenty of room for guests to comfortably engage with staffers. Recognizing that the sound-dampening studio would take up too much floorspace, the company built upward, creating a 10-by-20-foot second-story deck. A pair of oversized custom lightbox logos – a key branding element for Axonius – sandwiched the stairs leading to the podcast studio. (The front logo branded the space for approaching guests, while the rear one strategically faced a direct competitor across the aisle.) The well-appointed private space featured four comfortable leather armchairs, acoustic slat-wall paneling along the back, and LED-integrated lighting to give additional control over audio and lighting. In addition to the wood-slatted back wall and ceiling, Plexiglas walls encased the studio, ensuring attendees could glimpse the VIP brand ambassadors, who included Simone Biles and Amy Bream speaking about how they control adversity in their lives. Our jurors loved how the (dare we say) analog booth stood out on the largely digital exhibit hall. Axonius proved that creating a great design doesn't need to be overly complex.

you don't need to be supersized to be superlative – just consider atoms, diamonds, or Ant Man. And now you can add Serco Asia Pacific to that distinguished list. Looking to showcase the different sectors within the company that delivers services to governments and other institutions – but limited by a tight budget and modest footprint – Serco teamed with Expocentric Pty. Ltd. to build four distinct theme areas using Aluvision Inc.'s Omni 55 frame system and Basic-55 glass. The simple curve of the back wall with visually distinct columns of slats helped delineate one section from another. Intricate model vessels, such as a canary-yellow military landing craft, showed off the company's capabilities. Topping it off, a halo-like ceiling element gave the tapered structure the appearance of a booth rising above its rivals.

alcon Vision LLC, a pharmaceutical and medical device company that specializes in developing innovative eye care products, needed booth visitors to see that the organization's marketing eye was clearly on the future when it exhibited at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons Annual Conference. And all our judges gave Alcon Vision's exhibit high marks for being visually stunning. One of the key challenges with a 10,000-square-foot footprint, particularly one designed to display myriad products, lies in creating distinct product displays while maintaining a cohesive environment. Considering that the average apartment size in Manhattan is about 750 square feet, Alcon Vision could have comfortably fit a lot of New Yorkers inside its exhibit!

But rather than New Yorkers, the booth was jam packed with interactive engagements. And thanks to the design by The Freeman Co. LLC (Freeman), the exhibit was laid out to direct traffic to the products that interested them most. For example, some visitors chose to experience the Alcon Fidelis Virtual Reality Ophthalmic Surgical Simulator, a portable educational and training tool that teaches surgeons how to treat cataracts. The environment was bathed in a soothing blue color palette that echoed the brand's logo, and its booth space was divided into clearly defined regions using carpet, wall panels, LED ceiling tiles, down- lighting, and floor graphics, which all acted as wayfinding markers that allowed guests to easily move about.

A large encompassing circular head suspended above all four product displays neatly tied the entire environment together with what our judges praised as a "structural common element that unified the products under one company." Our jurors didn't need bifocals to agree that Alcon pulled the space off with 20/20 vision.

standing out among the competition at an event like EXHIBITORLIVE is a challenge in and of itself. But to do so with an in-line is something else entirely. Nevertheless, Exhibit Concepts Inc. exceeded expectations with its award-winning 10-by-30-foot booth, which one judge described as having a "beautifully striking design that was visually dynamic, engaging, and interactive." The silver exhibitry coupled with the exhibit's on-point lighting effects – beginning with LED infinity mirrors on each end, reinforced by branded mauve lighting on the back wall, and continuing beneath the raised central platform – created an environment that was streamlined, futuristic, and altogether elegant.

A large LED wall and raised stage dominated the center of the booth, while a tilted touchscreen in the middle of the platform enticed attendees to step inside. Visitors could select one of eight videos offered on the monitor ranging from case studies of its work to whimsical videos. For example, those who opted for the International Space Station video were treated to a musical score and a trio of dancing astronauts clad in spacesuits, while others perused the company's past designs. However, Exhibit Concepts moved beyond mere visual and acoustic appeal to create a truly immersive experience. The platform was a rumble floor that throbbed and vibrated with the beat of accompanying music while a scent diffuser rounded out the synchronized sensory experience. The combination of stunning visuals and a highly immersive experience showed that modular in-lines can punch above their weight class (and remain budget-friendly) when executed effectively.