When it comes to product innovations, pasta can be a bit of a wet noodle. Historians trace its roots to the fourth century BC Etruscans, and aside from some shape variations, pasta hasn't changed much.

However, Carbe Diem, a General Mills Inc. brand, is forging a new path. Its high-fiber, 110-calorie-per-serving noodles have 55-percent fewer net carbs than leading traditional pasta brands, making them a seemingly high-fiber alternative for carb- and calorie-conscious consumers.

Going into Natural Products Expo West, the noodle-industry neophyte wanted to generate show-wide awareness for the brand despite a pastina-sized 8-by-10-foot exhibit, which was adrift amid a sea of similarly sized stands. Additionally, Carbe Diem stakeholders needed to craft and serve hot pasta samples from the meager space, and they hoped the design would incorporate an angled half circle, which is an iconic part of its product package. Born of a collaboration between Condit Exhibits LLC and Stone Strategy & Design, the stand not only met Carbe Diem's functional and brand directives but also wowed judges, one of whom called the stand a “small but powerful booth that packed a serious brand punch.”

Bathed in the brand's earthy green hue and featuring a dynamic rear-lit logo on the back wall, the exhibit featured a highly functional kitchen integrated into the back and side walls. Mirroring Carbe Diem's product packaging, the angled reception desk offered eye-catching underlighting and a functional Plexiglas top. Complete with quality finishes, integrated storage, and ample room for product displays, “the stand highlights Carbe Diem's unique pasta and innovative spirit, all while making use of limited space,” said Riley Frenchik, account executive at Condit. E