Touted by one Exhibit Design Awards judge as "an exceptional design that fully employed its vertical space," this stunning double-deck exhibit for lighting provider Ledvance GmbH displayed more than 1,000 products at Light and Building 2018. Designed by Bachmannkern GmbH (aka Studio Bachmannkern), the stand featured a two-level attendee journey that began at a dramatic, angular opening on one side of the enclosed 82-by-112-foot exhibit. Attendees traversed a grand, tunnel-like staircase to the second story, where they discovered an expansive view of products displayed across the upper and lower levels, which were grouped according to use, e.g., retail, outdoor, office, etc., and situated within vertically orientated rectangular structures.

Visitors strolled along an elevated walkway, which was clad in Ledvance-orange laminate, and were free to step onto platforms inside any of the five structures to view and interact with the light fixtures. The roughly 11-foot-wide path, which meandered past each box and slowly and progressively stepped down in height, eventually led to a staircase that deposited visitors on the ground-level "plaza."

"As the heart of the stand, the plaza provided a place for attendees to explore the products and to sit, relax, and enjoy some hospitality," said designer Dirk Bachmann-Kern. Here, the open expanse offered clear views into the same boxes that visitors encountered on the upper deck. However, the perspectives and products were slightly different, giving visitors another reason to explore. Taking home the competition's top honor, the EDGE Award (for Exhibit Design and Graphic Excellence), the stand proved that you can house literally 1,000 products and still maintain an elegant – not to mention elevated – presence. E