Putting Together an Exhibit from Stray Pieces, Part V: It Comes To Life

We finally made it to the NACStech show. The concept is now reality.

The idea of taking truss and enveloping it in fabric is an idea that really has merit. While it still has its challenges, it is a way to revitalize standard-looking properties and turn them into something customized for the client.

By including zippers, this could become even more tailored to specific business units.

Adding lighting gives it all another dimension.

The upside:

• You can achieve a different look with a simple fabric sleeve
• It weighs a lot less than a traditional hard-structure booth
• The size of the shipment is reduced

The downside:

• Lots of small pieces and that can be a trap for crews not used to assembling modular exhibits.
• Limits on where monitors and accessories can be placed
• Can tear if not cut and grommetted correctly
• Have to be cleaned and steamed

The partners on this project include the following people and organizations. These projects can only be accomplished by cooperation and good work done in a timely fashion.

• Retalix, the client, and Dar Hackbarth, their Director of Marketing Communications
• The Taylor Group, Dallas, led by Tim Hampton, for the management of the exhibit properties and the basic idea that was suggested to the client
• FSD, Dan Hughes' company in Denver, who produced the actual fabric "sleeves"
• Zachry Associates' lead designer, Danny Flanagan, for the design concept and translation of the Retalix brand

This was a fun project and one that shows that imagination, even in its simplest form, is alive and well in the exhibit industry.

TTSG

Putting Together an Exhibit from Stray Pieces, Part IV: In the Home Stretch

The fabric enclosures arrived and we fit them to the wall and football shapes. They look like the concepts.

The concept is by the Taylor Group Dallas. The client wanted something to transform the basic Skyline Inliten truss. This accomplishes that.

FSD in Denver took the design and made it into the stretchy fabric pieces. The image design is by Zachry Associates in North Texas.

Working all these elements together takes patience and planning.

Next stop: New Orleans and the NACStech Show, booth 659. The next challenge is assembling this all in one day.

TTSG

Putting Together an Exhibit from Stray Pieces, Part III

We have the basic structure and a plan. Now we need to wrap the pieces up so they look good.

One of the challenges is the design of the graphic panels and how they interact with the hardware they have to fit around. The design of the graphic features some photos and a brand-driven colorful design element. A catch phrase has also found its way into the design.

We engaged FSD in Denver to produce the fabric graphics and Zachry Associates of North Texas to do the design. Careful measurement and coordination is key, along with buy-in from the client on brand direction. The interim sheathing of the booth structure was done electronically to simulate what the finished product would look like.

The next step will be to marry the finished graphic to the frame before it is packed and shipped to show site. Given that we have only one work day to assemble this exhibit and install the technical demos, we know we have to stage all the pieces and parts correctly before they arrive on show site.

One of the critical challenges was fitting the monitors for the demos onto the structure so that they didn't obviously interfere with the graphic design.

Tune in next week as this "loaves and fishes" exercise continues.

TTSG