Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Graduate Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 2010 Modularity: The solution for green tradeshow exhibit designs Purnima Swaharu Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd Part of the Art and Design Commons Recommended Citation Swaharu, Purnima, "Modularity: The os lution for green tradeshow exhibit designs" (2010). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 11287. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/11287 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Modularity: The solution for green tradeshow exhibit designs by Purnima Swaharu A thesis submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF FINE ARTS Major: Graphic Design Program of Study Committee: Lisa Fontaine, Major Professor Debra Satterfield Lori Brunner Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2010 Copyright © Purnima Swaharu, 2010. All rights reserved. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................. iv LIST OF TABLES.................................................................................................................. vii ABSTRACT...........................................................................................................................viii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................. 5 2.1 What are exhibits? ......................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Tradeshow History ........................................................................................................ 6 2.3 Importance and Effectiveness of Tradeshows............................................................... 9 2.4 Exhibiting at Tradeshows ............................................................................................ 11 2.5 The Small Size Exhibit............................................................................................... 13 2.6 Custom Exhibits .......................................................................................................... 14 2.7 Modular Exhibit Systems ............................................................................................ 15 2.8 Current Tradeshow Trends .......................................................................................... 17 2.8.1 Customization: Custom-Modular Exhibit............................................................. 17 2.8.2 Rate of Change or Life of a Tradeshow Exhibit ................................................... 20 2.8.3 Sustainable and Unsustainable Practices in Tradeshows...................................... 21 2.8.4 Green-Modular Exhibits/ Green Custom/Green-Custom Modular Exhibits ........ 23 2.9 Summary...................................................................................................................... 24 CHAPTER 3. METHODOLOGY .......................................................................................... 27 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 27 3.2 Test Materials .............................................................................................................. 29 3.2.1 Designing the prototype component Kits ............................................................. 31 3.2.2 Instruction Manual ................................................................................................ 31 3.3 Components................................................................................................................. 32 3.4 KIT A........................................................................................................................... 37 3.4.1 Prototype A1 ......................................................................................................... 39 3.4.2 Prototype A2 ......................................................................................................... 41 3.4.3 Prototype A3 ......................................................................................................... 43 3.4.4 Prototype A4 ......................................................................................................... 45 iii 3.4.5 Prototype A5 ......................................................................................................... 47 3.4.6 Prototype A6 ......................................................................................................... 50 3.5 KIT B........................................................................................................................... 52 3.5.1 Prototype B1 ......................................................................................................... 53 3.4.2 Prototype B2 ......................................................................................................... 55 3.5.3 Prototype B3 ......................................................................................................... 57 3.5.4 Prototype B4 ......................................................................................................... 59 3.5.5 Prototype B5 ......................................................................................................... 62 3.5.6 Prototype B6 ......................................................................................................... 64 3.6 KIT C........................................................................................................................... 66 3.6.1 Prototype C1 ......................................................................................................... 68 3.6.2 Prototype C2 ......................................................................................................... 71 3.6.3 Prototype C3 ......................................................................................................... 73 3.6.4 Prototype C4 ......................................................................................................... 75 3.6.5 Prototype C5 ......................................................................................................... 77 3.6.6 Prototype C6 ......................................................................................................... 79 3.7 Graphic Options........................................................................................................... 82 3.8 Non- component features............................................................................................. 84 3.9 Limitations of this Methodology ................................................................................. 84 CHAPTER 4. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................... 86 4.1 Implications for the Future .......................................................................................... 89 BIBLIOGRAPHY................................................................................................................... 91 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.................................................................................................... 95 iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1. Sample Custom Modular exhibit size1 (www.nomadicdisplay.com)........... 18 Figure 2.2. Sample Custom Modular exhibit size 2 (www.nomadicdisplay.com).......... 18 Figure 2.3. Sample Custom Modular exhibit size 3 (www.nomadicdisplay.com).......... 19 Figure 2.4. Sample Custom Modular exhibit size 4 (www.nomadicdisplay.com).......... 19 Figure 2.5. Plan drawings of different exhibit structures and the components used in their construction (Lacet Design Guide, May 1989).................................... 26 Figure 3.1. Selected sizes and the minimum maximum range of the Lacet System components for this study ......................................................................................... 32 Figure 3.2. Front view of prototype A1 ........................................................................... 40 Figure 3.3. Side view of prototype A1............................................................................. 40 Figure 3.4. Plan view drawing of prototype A1.............................................................. 41 Figure 3.5. Front view of prototype A2 ........................................................................... 42 Figure 3.6. Three quarter view of prototype A2 .............................................................. 42 Figure 3.7. Plan view drawing of prototype A2............................................................... 43 Figure 3.8. Front view of prototype A3 ........................................................................... 44 Figure 3.9. Three quarter view of prototype A3 .............................................................. 44 Figure 3.10. Plan view drawing of prototype A3............................................................. 45 Figure 3.11. Plan view drawing of