#TopLEDLumination

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A Look at Exhibit Trends from EXHIBITORLIVE 2019

Each year, trends shift in the exhibit world. Some times the changes are dramatic, other times they continue a previous established trajectory. Here’s a look at trade show trends I noted on the show floor at EXHIBITORLIVE 2019.

EXHIBITORLIVE 2019 Exhibit Hall. 

Exhibit Houses Advertising Trade Show Measurement

Exhibit measurement is nothing new. The legendary Skip Cox founded Exhibit Surveys in 1963 and created the field, setting standards for our industry. Others followed in his footsteps, and the rise of technology continues to put the ability to measure into more and more hands. I must say, though, I’ve never seen more exhibit houses advertising trade show measurement than on the show floor at EXHIBITORLIVE 2019. No doubt this is a response to Freeman’s acquisition of Exhibit Surveys three years ago.  Several exhibit houses emphasized and even illustrated that they can help clients measure results. GES in particular made measurement its focus this year, supported by a custom tailoring theme. Their theme reached beyond the show floor to the sessions -- Dave Frazer, Manager of Research and Analytics at GES was co-presenter of “Optimize Program Performance: How Illumina Prioritizes Shows and Drives Results.”  

GES made use of a tailoring theme, with tape measures and dressmaking forms, to call attention to trade show measurement.   Dave Frazer, Manager of Research and Analytics at GES, speaks to visitors. Dave was co-presenter of “Optimize Program Performance: How Illumina Prioritizes Shows and Drives Results.”   @GESGlobal

The GES booth headers called out  “The Bespoke Experience” “A Pattern for Success” and “On the Cutting Edge.” @GESGlobal 

GES did more than present a strong theme of measurement. They also won the Best of Show Best Booth Staff Award for EXHIBITORLIVE 2019!

The Exhibitus booth had a “Good Measure: Analytics Made Easy” message with a cooking theme. @exhibitusinc

Zone motion measurement. (A little branding would help here.)

Greater Emphasis on Lighting and Changing Colors, as  Dramatic Elements of Booth Design

For the past twenty years lighting has become increasingly important in both architecture and interior design. Exhibit design tends to follow architectural and interior design trends, so greater and more prominent use of lighting and changing color in trade show displays is not surprising. The appearance of a booth can be easily and inexpensively changed by lighting and flat screen displays.

Lights changed color at the TLL Top LED Lumination booth. @TExhibits

Makitso booth. @MakitsoDisplays

Colors and patterns changed on the beMatrix booth. @beMatrixUSA

Booths Framed by Large, Open Geometric Shapes

This open booth trend, often featuring a series of geometric shapes, remains strong.

The Trade Group booth featured an open booth with geometric shapes.

Attention-grabbing light and open, geometric shapes showcased trade show flooring!

Big, bold Highmark booth. @HighmarkTechSystems

Matrix Frame USA made use of light and open, geometric shapes, along with “hand written” look writing, as if the walls were whiteboards. I noticed lots of white booths this year, even for booths not utilizing color lighting. 

Aluvision used light, squares, and other shapes to define its exhibit space.

The Rounded Cube

The retro-inspired rounded cube has been around for the past few years, but it is getting even more popular.

The EXHIBITORLIVE Meeting Point Lounge made use of the rounded cube. @EXHIBITOR

The rounded cube trend was found throughout the Event Architecture booth. The black really made this elegant exhibit stand out! @eventarchus

ExhibitForce booth with interlocking rounded cube shapes. @EXHIBITFORCE

Lots of White and Soft Neutral Tones

For all of the changing color and light on the show floor, they were a lot of white booths, along with many soft neutral tones. White was popular even with booths that were not changing their colors with light. 

As I mentioned, interior design trends influence trade show displays, and the white and soft neutral look described my suite at The Delano. (The rooms were VERY white.)

Aisle-Spanning Booths

I also noticed booths that span aisles, causing people walking down an aisle to walk through a booth. This not a brand new technique but one that resurfaces, and I noticed at least two booths employing it at the show this year.