Design Evolution

Start with THIS: This season's Seattle Gift Show logo, on collateral sent to me by the marketing director of Western Exhibitors:

Envision THIS: A 3-D replication of the logo. White boxes, artwork, aqua 'bows' on top.

OK, well, truthfully, that photo is NOT how I envisioned it.
I saw each of the four squares in the logo shot being enlarged and printed separately, then I would attach them to the fronts of the boxes so they would be a larger and exact replica of the logo. Apparently the printer had some issues with the jpeg image that the graphics department sent him, and this is all he could do with it. Hey, display necessitates flexibility - we do what we can with what we've got! It worked out ok.

Using the white cardboard Easy Pedestals, MDF tables, acrylic cubes, and now these white boxes with logos on them, we set the stage.....



Here it is, ready and waiting for product....
You can also see the mannequin heads with stylish coiffures in aqua blue. Paper is our friend! Cheap, bright, colorful, attention-getting paper whimsy. I just can't resist!

Once the products/merchandise are brought to us and added, in sections that correspond to divisions of the show this time, the whole area takes on a different look:

This is a shot of the whole display, taken at about 6 PM on Friday. Four hours past deadline for product submission. Approximately two hours later, we had added many more items and were too exhausted to shoot final photos.
May I just say God BLESS all of the exhibitors who brought their merchandise to us before the deadline! I felt like a teacher listening to excuses why the homework was not done on time: My dog ate it. My truck broke down, My shipping container isn't here. My hotel screwed up. My flight was late. The taxi got lost. I couldn't find my booth space. I couldn't find YOU. I came by but you weren't here. (Sorry. Nature calls occasionally in a ten hour day....) Oi.

I think at the next show, I'll have some sort of reward for all who do plan ahead and bring us a box of merchandise as they unpack to set up. Or who send it ahead to the marketing director. Maybe candy, Starbux gift cards, SOMETHING. When you are on time, polite, helpful, and understanding that the deadline exists for a reason, this 15 X 30 foot space has a design plan created to maximize visibility for each display cube, each vendor gets ONE cube space, and that not everyone can be "front & center", we love you with undying devotion. This is a tough area to merchandise, it is many long, hard, physical hours, it is constant re-working of the setup to make everything fit, and it is free as a show courtesy to North Hall exhibitors. We are determined to do our VERY BEST to assist you in having a successful show. Trust me, we really are good at it. See?



So, there you have it. Display from start to finish. Concept to Completion. Inspiration to Exhaustion! And yeah, I love it love it love it. So did exhibitors, attendees, and Mike & Wendy Dean (owners of Western Exhibitors show production) - they all complimented the design use of the show logo & colors, as well as the setups that made products such standouts. Thanks, we really appreciate that!