Small (30 sqm. or fewer)
Black Nova Corp.
By merging flawless functionality with Italian design, Black Nova Corp. has raised the bar for touch-panel and keypad design, and the firm brought that same bold personality and immaculate style to its stand design. With a minimalist approach, the 5-by-5-meter booth comprised little more than a reception desk and six rectangular dark-wood panels – which displayed families of keypads – spaced along the matte black interior walls. Thin suspended lights highlighted the company's offerings and elevated the panels from functional to artistic. Despite its humble footprint, our judges said Black Nova's exhibit outperformed its booth space through "elegant simplicity" and "thoughtful lighting" that delivered a "premium look." Medium (31 – 60 sqm.)
Luhkee B.V.
Luhkee B.V., last year's small-stand winner, expanded its footprint and claimed another Stand Design trophy in the medium category with an unconventional exhibit that certainly piqued our judges' curiosity. The perimeter featured 10 matte black columns that disrupted sightlines into the space and effectively blocked any view of the company's offerings – a bold gambit considering most exhibitors want to be easily identified from the aisles. But that strategy paid off. "Entering the space felt like stepping into a miniature museum," one judge remarked. Seemingly around each turn, the company had artfully mounted its assortment of outlet covers and keypads to the interior sides of the columns or laid them out in white horizonal display boxes. A mix of materials from wood to cork added texture and dimension. "You were surprised by well-displayed products around every column," another juror said. "Luhkee made a bold gamble with a very nontraditional design – and I loved it." Large (70 – 249 sqm.)
Zykronix International Group Inc.
Zykronix International Group Inc., a manufacturer of digital control panels for homes and buildings, stunned our jurors with a booth that was both restrained and beautiful – fitting for its products that feature names like Milano, Viola, and Bella. The walls, floor, and display stands were entirely constructed of particle board, lending a sense of warmth to the softly lit booth. The exhibit's canopy comprised 11 sheer sheets of hanging beige fabric, while three fabric dividers hanging to the floor with arched openings provided the sense of moving through the rooms of an Italian villa. "The combination of wood and fabric stood out in the middle of this trade show," one judge said. Another described it as "simple" and "effective" adding, "Zykronix showed you don't have to spend a ton of money to be meet your goals." X-Large (250 sqm. or more)
Epson Europe B.V.
Epson Europe B.V. wanted to bring a big and bold experience to ISE to showcase its latest series of projectors. And it nailed the presentation. Epson's 562-square-meter exhibit was a veritable visual buffet that got all the details right. A massive projection-mapped wall along the main aisle stole the show with its animation of El Drac – the dragon from Park Güell which was designed by Barcelona's beloved architect, Antoni Gaudí – a nod to local culture our jurors appreciated. Inside, attendees loved the booth's immersion room that featured 15 projectors painting the walls and floor with stunning takes on iconic masterpieces ranging from Monet's "The Japanese Footbridge" to the stained-glass windows of Gaudí's Sagrada Familia. Despite being one of the largest exhibits at the show, Epson succeeded in even the smallest details. "This is the only large booth I saw whose graphic design connected the floor, ceiling, and all wall elements," one juror said. "It was both subtle and precise."