portfolio
Presentation Stations
Few places within your stand house attendees longer than your presentation space. Yet many exhibitors give as much thought to their in-booth theaters as they do to chewing their food – that is to say, little to none. So to help you make the most of this ever-important environment, here are six examples of theaters that not only drew a crowd but also made a positive, on-brand impression in the process. By Linda Armstrong

PHOTO: Padgett and Company Inc.

True Colors
Exhibitor: Cisco Systems Inc.
Show: Cisco Live
Design: MSM Inc., Webster, NY, 585-232-4020, www.mirrorshow.com

Hoping to foster a whimsical vibe, designers concocted this multicolored theater with myriad seating options. Hosting everything from magicians to acrobats, the space boasted 24 colorful stools, a grassy area perfect for lounging, and a bar where up to 16 guests could cop a squat.

PHOTO: Tea & Kay Photography

Beauty School
Exhibitor: Ulta Beauty Inc.
Show: America's Beauty Show
Design: Katherine Frank Creative Inc., Downers Grove, IL, 630-620-7720, www.katherinefrank.com

To highlight its educational programs, Ulta Beauty Inc. devised a contemporary, brand-appropriate theater that took up roughly half of the retailer's 40-by-60-foot space. Featuring a runway with a fantail end, the theater offered ample seating and aisle-side allure.

PHOTO: Jurgen Jacob Lodder

Model Behavior
Exhibitor: Hans Boodt Mannequins
Show: EuroShop
Design: Hans Boodt Mannequins, Zwijndrecht, Netherlands, 31-10-316-3200, www.hansboodt.com

Hans Boodt Mannequins walked out this multifaceted space showcasing the versatility of its various mannequin lines. While bleacher-style seating lined a branded backdrop, presenters helmed a computer station that manipulated content on the side wall's 12 monitors.

PHOTO: Astound Group Inc.

White Out
Exhibitor: Google LLC
Show: National Association of Broadcasters Show
Design: Astound Group Inc., Toronto, 905-465-0474, www.astoundgroup.com

Google LLC always strives for streamlined simplicity. Not surprisingly, its theater at the National Association of Broadcasters Show maintained a similar focus. The "all-eyes-here" stage comprised only an elevated platform, a podium, and a monitor inset into a curvaceous back wall.

PHOTO: sacks Exhibits

House of Blues
Exhibitor: Hologic Inc.
Show: Radiological Society of North America
Design: Sacks Exhibits, Andover, MA, 978-988-1100, www.sacksexhibits.com

While presenters highlighted the latest medical technologies in this cozy theater for Hologic Inc., visitors rested atop sleek and stylish white chairs. Bathed in soft, Hologic-blue lighting, the presentation space whispered "medical technology" yet crooned "informal" and "inviting."

PHOTO: Michael Taft Photography

Prime Time
Exhibitor: Amazon.com Inc.
Show: Game Developers Conference
Design: Pinnacle Exhibits, Hillsboro, OR, 503-844-4848, www.pinnacle-exhibits.com

Sometimes pure and simple translates to functional and on-brand. This unpretentious theater for Amazon.com Inc. included little more than a monitor-adorned back wall, an unobtrusive podium, some unassuming stools, and overhead truss in the company's corporate hue.
eTrak Online Sessions