Honorable Mentions

design awards

Honorable Mentions

"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough." While this Mark Twain quote likely wasn't top of mind for Exhibit Design Awards judges, they certainly took the sentiment to heart when assessing this year's entrants. For in addition to naming 15 winners, they also identified six entries that they deemed noteworthy and deserving of a prestigious nod. Here, then, are this year's Honorable Mentions, which comprise full booths and individual elements and include everything from a sweet 10-by-15-foot beauty to a whimsical three-story slide. By Linda Armstrong

PHOTO: Artsolute Media Group

Laura Mercier
Design/Fabrication: Artsolute Media Group, DSI Group Inc.
Show: Sephora Leadership Conference, 2019
Size: 10-by-15 feet
Budget: $80,000 – $149,000

Small in size but big on impact, this 10-by-15-foot stand for Laura Mercier was an embodiment of the cosmetics and skin-care firm's new slogan: "Unlock the secret to effortless skin." At its core, a multitude of gold padlocks adorned an iron gate, accentuating the tagline.

PHOTO: Padgett and Company Inc.

Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions
Design/Fabrication: Design/Fabrication: Exhibitus Inc.
Show: National Retail Federation, 2019
Size: 50-by-60 feet
Budget: $500,000 – $749,000

To educate attendees about its e-commerce platform, Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions used a projection-mapping activation that jurors singled out as "an inventive engagement in tune with its audience." When touched, embossed images on a 17-by-12-foot wall sprang to animated life.

PHOTO: Michael Gaskell

IBM
Design/Fabrication: George P. Johnson
Show: International Consumer Electronics Show, 2019
Size: 60-by-130 feet (9,560 square feet with second-story space)
Budget: $250,000 – $499,000

IBM hoped to showcase its technology and illustrate how the company impacts attendees' lives. To that end, design-ers staged seven immersive digital experiences that won over judges, who called the project "a well-designed, interactive means for attendees to connect with the brand."

PHOTO: Proto Images

Ferrara Candy Co.
Design/Fabrication: EDE Corp.
Show: National Association of Convenience Stores Show, 2018
Size: 50-by-80 feet
Budget: $750,000 – $999,000

While jurors appreciated the entire Ferrara Candy Co. booth, they were most drawn to the massive product wall that formed the exhibit's focal point. Here, 80 circular cases featured the exhibitor's candy while holographic fans offered content and stats relative to the sweet treats.

PHOTO: Oscar & Associates

Dometic Corp.
Design/Fabrication: Derse Inc.
Show: RVX: The RV Experience, 2019
Size: 30-by-30 feet
Budget: $150,000 – $249,000

When your products are rarely seen, it's difficult to focus attention on your wares. So to highlight Dometic Corp.'s RV products, designers devised a transparent facsimile of the vacation vehicle â?" spotlighting Dometic's offerings and moving the RV housing into the background.

PHOTO: The Trade Group Inc.

Google LLC
Design/Fabrication: The Trade Group Inc.
Show: Gamescom, 2019
Size: 77-by-77 feet (7,905 square feet with second-story space)
Budget: $1 – $1.9 million

Google LLC wanted to communicate that its cloud-gaming service allows players to "slide into the game" without logging in. Designers turned to a playful solution: an old-fashioned slide, which jurors felt was "a clever way to get attendees physically interacting with the brand."