Omron Corp., an international electronics company known for industrial automation systems, decided to cut through the gaudiness of surrounding exhibits at the 2019 Innovative Industry Fair by constructing a lean, simple vision of a factory where humans and machines cooperatively work and innovate. The 10,000-square-foot, L-shaped exhibit paired industrial architecture with a Japanese aesthetic that valued comfort and efficiency. "We eliminated unnecessary decoration and noise by relying on general-purpose industrial products used in actual manufacturing sites," said Satoru Utashiro, designer at Hakuten Corp., which designed the space with Omron and Ryo Matsui Architects. The gray monochrome booth was staid (though quite stylish) throughout, beginning with the heavy-duty punch carpet common in manufacturing settings. Overhead, an 8-foot-tall aluminum facade covered in steel mesh surrounded the upper part of the structure, and rows of overhead tube lights delivered a bright interior that rounded out the factory vibe.

One length of the space hosted a 24-foot-long stage where corporate speakers extolled the virtues of Omron's innovations. The other wing housed loads of dexterous demos showing how the company's artificial-intelligence and sensing technologies support human endeavors. And in a nod to sustainability, all of the exhibit's components were reusable.

Exhibit Design Awards judges appreciated how the stand's form and function allowed Omron to educate visitors in a setting befitting the precision of its products. In the words of one juror, "There's a quiet sophistication here that doesn't need to shout or dance. It just sings." E