Under Statements

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Under Statements

What's underfoot is often out of sight and out of mind. This is especially true of booth flooring, as flooring selection rarely tops exhibit managers' to-do lists. In reality, though, flooring is the only exhibit component that covers every inch of your space, and as such, it provides a critical aesthetic impact that can dramatically affect your brand and attendees' experiences. So here are six flooring examples that offer everything from drama and flair to way-finding help and message delivery – proving that what's underfoot can have an overarching impact. By Linda Armstrong

PHOTO: Padgett and Company Inc.

A Walk in the Park
Exhibitor: Shire USA Inc.
Show: Digestive Disease Week
Design: Cal Ostlund Exhibits, Kenilworth, NJ, 908-688-4466, www.calostlund.com

A walk in the park can be a challenge for ulcerative colitis suffers. But according to its manufacturers, prescription drug Lialda can make that pleasurable park experience a reality. Thus, this exhibit's flooring mixes lush green faux turf with a meandering vinyl "cobblestone" path.

PHOTO: Czarnowski Display Services Inc.

Three Sheets for the Win
Exhibitor: General Motors Co. (Buick)
Show: North American International Auto Show
Design: Czarnowski Display Services Inc., Chicago, 800-247-4302, www.czarnowski.com

Made of three layers, this flooring for the Buick brand comprises a subfloor of Formica laminate topped with custom, computer numerical control (CNC) milled anthracite featuring a latticework pattern. And to highlight the pattern, the final layer is transparent, load-bearing glass.

Stay in Your Lane
Exhibitor: Hero Eco Ltd.
Show: Interbike International Bicycle Exposition
Design: Hero Eco Ltd., New Delhi, 91-11-418-20000, www.heroelectric.in

Less is more in this exhibit for electric bike provider Hero Eco Ltd. The minimal flooring comprises nothing more than a square of faux turf to mark a conversation area along with strips of white vinyl used to craft an eye-catching bike lane down the center of the booth space.

PHOTO: Swisstrax Corp.

Easy Does It
Exhibitor: International E-Z Up Inc.
Show: Specialty Equipment Market Association Show
Design: International E-Z Up Inc., Norco, CA, 951-279-0999, www.ezup.com

Motorsports racing and pop-up shelters go hand in hand, and that's why International E-Z Up Inc. opted for a racing-themed exhibit. To drive home that concept, the company chose durable, checkered-flag-style Ribtrax tile flooring from Swisstrax Corp.

PHOTO: Padgett and Company Inc.

Two-For
Exhibitor: Kennametal Inc.
Show: International Manufacturing Technology Show
Design: Heilmaier GmbH Messedesign, Munich, 49-8104-62-86-7-0, www.messedesign.de

Sometimes, two is really better than one. That's why tooling and industrial-materials supplier Kennametal Inc. chose two types of Brumark flooring. While a corporate-yellow carpet covers most of the space, wood-laminate planks create traffic pathways, adding a sophisticated edge.

PHOTO: Andreas Keller

Message from Down Under
Exhibitor: Daimler AG (Smart)
Show: Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung
Design: Braunwagner GmbH, Aachen, Germany, 49-241-40-10-72-0, www.braunwagner.de

While the cars are the stars in this exhibit for Daimler AG's Smart brand, the flooring is a brilliant understudy. White laminate forms the base; however, carefully positioned words, symbols, and patterns atop the laminate turn the simple surface into a striking messaging medium.