Santa Monica, CA-based Doria International Inc.'s Defense product line delivers maximum protection for mobile devices without sacrificing style. As such, the company needed a rugged yet refined space in which to display its wares at the 2019 International Consumer Electronics Show. Tasked with creating a show-stopping stand at an event known for over-the-top exhibits – all the while maintaining brand consistency, communicating the products' primary differentiators, and staying within Doria's modest budget – K2 Fabrication Inc. found its solution in a sophisticated fusion of repurposed 20-foot-long shipping containers and relaxed California style. An internally lit header shrouded in sheer silicone-edge graphics reached more than 20 feet high and set the scene for the industrial space below. A pair of shipping containers in an L-shaped configuration comprised the primary architectural components. Steel beams extended from the structure to create display kiosks of faux-concrete tables and integrated lighting that illuminated Doria's mobile-device cases. While one of the shipping containers housed a private conference room, the other revealed a wood-floored space that looked more like a high-end man cave than a typical trade show exhibit.

"A number of strategic design decisions helped Doria take advantage of its full cubic space while minimizing expenses," said Carol Bjorn, account executive at K2. Using shipping containers rather than custom exhibitry kept costs under control, and placing the header on top of one of the containers helped Doria sidestep rigging fees. The expertly curated displays, built-to-last aesthetics, sturdy materials, and durable finishes combined to create a brawny little booth that was just as tough as the company's military-grade, drop-tested cellphone accessories. E