The Great Outdoors USA theme of “Bring Home a Story” has encouraged us to bring home our own story of success to share with you!
When designing and building the new 2019 Great Outdoors USA trade show marketing booth for IPW, the USA’s leading international inbound travel trade show, we wanted to make a big impression while also building off of foundational elements we’ve used in previous years.
Just like in the past, we also had the challenge of uniting a group of individual partner booths under a larger umbrella to give the outdoorsy space a stand-out, cohesive presence in the large exhibit hall. Our strategy? We put most of our effort into the big, statement-making pieces. To make a high-impact first impression, we looked to our expert craftsmen to create a stunning welcome archway and custom-designed aisle carpet.
The Welcome Archway
The biggest change to the Great Outdoors booth this year was the addition of a welcome archway. The archway draws inspiration from the entrance signs at national parks.
The natural textures really bring the space to life and add a layer of richness to the space. They also serve as a wayfinding element in the busy exhibition hall, standing out and making a big impact.
The sign on the archway was a labor of love built by our craftsmen using our very own CNC machine. The faux stone base has plenty of natural texture and variation. In addition, we used a rich wood stain to enhance the pine support beams, plus some etching in the wood grain to give them an aged look.
Through many rounds of burning, softening, painting, sanding, and staining, we created layers that make the archway look like real, aged timber. To finish it off, the letters and logos are dimensional, adding another layer of depth.
The Custom-Designed Aisle Carpet
To connect the space, we designed a memorable aisle carpet. This year, we used a topographical map of an area within Los Padres National Forest. The muted, dark blue shades anchored the space, while pops of color highlighted paths, roads, and rivers.
Eye-catching icons complete the map and highlight different activities and features. The aisle carpet attracted visitors to the booth from far away, and the details really came to life when they stopped by to visit.
The Wow Factor
The natural, rustic look of the archway is carried throughout the booth design, uniting the space and offering an authentic visitor experience. Espresso-toned pillars lined the aisle, featuring deep wood and soft, earthy tones for the graphic icons.
We’re proud to work with Great Outdoors USA every year to create a cohesive, branded space that also allows each partner booth to shine individually.
