Sometimes a simple color scheme and a bold accent wall are all that's needed to deliver an elegant exhibit. Such was the case for Drutex S.A., a Poland-based door and window manufacturer, at the 2018 Fensterbau Frontale. Coming out of a recent rebranding, the firm tapped Smart Design Expo Sp. z o.o. to create a space that showcased its product lines and included a posh business lounge large enough to handle concurrent client meetings. The result was a 39-by-33-foot double-deck exhibit that exuded sophistication with its straight lines, matte-black walls and floors, and white accents. Except for the Drutex name and tagline branding the exhibit's exterior, the booth was largely void of graphics and text. "The company's products are always pre-eminent, and Drutex wants them to be displayed in their natural environment," said Katarzyna Rzadkiewicz, marketing manager at Smart Design. Five parallel walls were placed along one side of the booth with windows and doors installed in them. The opposite end of the space contained several black pedestals that brought product cross sections to eye level – a refined touch that appealed to Exhibit Design Awards judges.

A pair of steel staircases led attendees to the second-floor lounge, where circular chrome tables and white midcentury-mod chairs created a chic meeting space. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls topped with a lattice of black beams set in a herringbone pattern with suspended globe lamps rounded out the sleek environment.

However, it was the lounge's 39-by-10-foot living wall that left judges green with envy. Boasting more than 650 plants, including dozens of blooming orchids and scores of leafy tricolored roheo spathacea, the verdant element softened the interior of the stand and provided the perfect backdrop for attendee engagements. E