Trade Shows

Creating memorable trade show experiences takes a lot of time and planning. Months of preparation often lead up to just a few days on the show floor, so every detail needs to count. From early ideas and rough sketches to the final booth, merch, and supporting materials, it all comes together in a short window. Here is a look at some of the work I’ve developed from the initial concept through the final result.

An Experience To Remember

START WITH A BIG IDEA

Build your trade show presence around a central idea. It might be a product launch, a theme, or a bold visual concept. In a sea of booths competing for attention, a clear idea is what makes people stop, look, and remember.
DESIGN FOR THE SPACE

Every trade show floor is different. I like to start with quick sketches and simple layouts to understand how people will move through the space and where the story should unfold. The right layout turns a booth into an experience.
CREATE A SHOW IDENTITY

A trade show is a moment in time, so it deserves its own identity. Custom floor graphics, thoughtful giveaways, and interactive elements help extend the brand and create something people actually remember after the show ends.
MAKE THE MERCH COUNT

Team apparel and booth merchandise should feel considered, not disposable. When designed well, these pieces become part of the brand story and something people would genuinely want to wear beyond the event.
EXTEND THE STORY

DescriptioThe booth is just one touchpoint. Carry the visual language into marketing materials, videos, and digital campaigns so everything feels connected. When every element works together, the brand shows up with clarity and impact.n goes here

Winner: Best Booth Design, NADA 2020

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Winner: Best Booth Design, NADA 2020 〰️

Theming your trade show experience is a powerful way to make a statement and bring an element of fun to the floor. A well developed theme does more than decorate a booth. It creates a clear idea that draws people in, sparks conversation, and makes the brand easier to remember long after the event ends. Here are a few of my favorite concepts I developed for Sokal. Each one was designed to encourage interaction, create memorable moments with clients and attendees, and turn the booth into something people wanted to be part of.

One of our most successful concepts centered on the idea of fueling the automotive industry. The booth recreated a classic service station with vintage details that immediately caught attention on the floor. The team wore mechanic style work shirts with custom name patches, reinforcing the theme while creating a memorable and approachable presence for attendees.
This concept leaned into the universal language of sports. The booth featured interactive challenges including a basketball shootout, putting green, and football toss that encouraged participation and conversation. The team wore custom football jerseys, while giveaways included signed sports memorabilia that helped extend the excitement beyond the booth.
Inspired by the music culture of New Orleans, this concept paired digital innovation with a rock club aesthetic. The booth was modeled after a vintage venue from the French Quarter, complete with retro concert posters promoting the company. A small stage doubled as both a product demo area and a guitar video game competition that kept the energy high.
This Vegas inspired concept brought a sense of spectacle to the trade show floor. The mid century modern booth design was anchored by a glowing sign inspired by the iconic Las Vegas welcome sign. Team members wore satin jackets while the space featured a classic bar setup and nostalgic giveaways like branded hotel key tags.

Making Paper

With the Digital That Rocks theme, I created a tabloid style newspaper that brought the concept to life in a tangible way. The piece highlighted Sokal’s show offers, digital products, and key messaging while leaning into the visual language of classic music and entertainment press. Every photo featured real employees, giving the piece an authentic voice and a bit of personality. It became both a conversation starter at the booth and a memorable takeaway that extended the theme beyond the trade show floor.

Off the Record

As a tribute to some of our favorite albums of all time, we created a series of parody record covers inspired by iconic releases. Each cover featured real employees stepping into the roles of rock stars, recreating familiar poses and artwork with a playful twist. The concept brought a sense of humor to the booth and encouraged people to loosen up, take photos, and engage with the brand in a more relaxed way. It was a simple idea that turned into one of the most talked about pieces from the event.