At the Durban Motor Show, the 3D Group took two awards for stand design and construction: Gold for its stand for BP and Bronze for GWM (Great Wall Motors). Both stands were based on the high quality modular Octanorm system. Staying with the motoring theme, at Tyrexpo Africa, it was awarded first place in the Best Stand Design category for its stand for CFP Tyres. Exhibition organisers, Rowena Suthers and Liana Shaw, had no hesitation in awarding Gold to 3D based on its innovative design and precision stand construction.
Said Suthers: “It is always a pleasure to work with 3D. The entire team – from directors down to stand builders and electricians – is always professional, timeous and courteous. These qualities, while not essential to constructing good exhibition stands, certainly play a major role, however, in making their clients’ exhibition experiences as smooth as possible and ensuring them a successful show.”
The Group also won Best Stand at the Engen Retail Expo held at Sun City for a stand it designed and constructed for JTI. The stand was also based on the high quality modular Octanorm system but, in addition, incorporated several new technologies and special effects to add excitement and drama to the exhibit. For example, a super high definition plasma screen displayed an image of a fire in the fire place that was so real, several visitors to the stand walked up to it to warm their hands!
3D incorporated several ice sculptures into the design – while not a ‘new’ special effect, the technology used to carve these sculptures is unique. As a result, they had high impact and drew people on to the stand once they’d caught their eye. They also contrasted with the fire elements used on the stand, to contrast passion with apathy, and highlight JTI’s commitment to its brands and customers.
Another contrasting design element was the ‘snow’ backdrops specially created for the stand. Customers were forgiven for thinking they were seeing things – camels, in particular – around the refreshment sections. The judges were impressed by its subtle reinforcement of JTI’s leading brand. Hot on the heels of this win, it took the Best Stand Award for a stand it conceptualised and constructed for the Eastern Cape Development Corp (ECDC) at the Agri Foods Expo held at Gallagher Estate.
Finally, at Markex, four of the five stands built by the Group for this show were highly rated by the ‘best on show’ judges. 3D’s own stand was awarded ‘Best Medium Size Stand’ while it achieved three ‘Highly Commended’ for Trubok, Inspirit and the Sandton Convention Centre.
The 3D stand incorporated extensive backlighting and made local exhibition history by having 2,000 pieces of handhung Perspex suspended from the ceiling. The stand’s theme was ‘Visit the Big Fish’, a tongue-in-cheek reference to 3D’s size and standing in the exhibition industry. This theme was incorporated into the exhibition as well as the stand. At the entrance to Markex, visitors walked over the 3D interactive floor display depicting a pond of Koi fish which moved whenever someone walked over it. From here, 3D floor graphics lead the visitor to the 3D stand, which was a water wonderland with a seamless plasma screen displaying its service, water bubbles rising from the floor and a coffee bar with overhead waves – the 2 000 pieces of Perspex..