At the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, only eye-catching, cutting-edge exhibitry will do. This angular reception desk from 3M Co. delivers with a striking custom-constructed form comprising 12, 6-foot-long wooden "slabs" covered with a variety of 3M's available surface finishes.

Part three-dimensional logo and part reception desk, this dramatic orange and white element mirrors the sense of whimsy inherent in the Nickelodeon brand. The aisle-side structure immediately identifies the environs.

When your company's co-founder is Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, your desk had better not be sportin' a whack, old-school vibe. This solution delivers street cred and stylish sophistication via its contemporary lines and shapes, and its opulent backdrop featuring a profile of the rapper.

Offering images and text suggestive of a remote Alpine hunting lodge, this desk is both rustic and urbane. Covered in surfacing products from Schattdecor AG, the simple structure captures attendees' attention and then directs it to additional product samples within the space.

For Kikkerland Design Inc., which concocts everything from Napoleon-themed bottle stoppers to pig-shaped bag clips, creativity is de rigueur. So this Aztec-inspired desk, which displays entries from the company's student-design competition, is spectacularly spot on.

Subtle yet sophisticated, this desk for NBCUniversal Inc. offers a clear point of communication within the company's 70-by-130-foot space. Covered in a wood-grained veneer, the substantial structure requires little embellishment and lends a sense of permanence to the brand.