I’ll start with a confession: I’m bored. Not “doom-scrolling-for-hours” bored, but “seen-the-same-tradeshow-booth-six-times-this-year” bored. We go to these shows to get inspired, but lately, it feels like we’re just trapped in an echo chamber of our own making. We look at what everyone else is doing in our industry, get a “brilliant” idea, and then we’re stuck in a loop. It’s safe, it’s predictable, and honestly, it’s a little soul-crushing.
And don’t even get me started on the LinkedIn posts. You know the ones: the four-bullet-point list with a few emojis, a vague “inspiring” quote, and a call to action to “engage below.” It’s all so… manufactured. It’s like everyone is just copying the same AI prompt, resulting in a feed full of fake sincerity and zero personality. What happened to our voices?
The same thing is happening with design. I’ve seen enough AI-generated renders of booths with glowing arches and floating screens to last me a lifetime. We’re all putting the same basic prompts into Midjourney, and guess what? We’re getting the same basic results. If your client is in the auto industry and every one of your competitors is using a car-related prompt, you’re all going to end up with a car. It’s not innovative; it’s lazy. It’s the visual equivalent of a LinkedIn listicle.
Here’s my two cents: true innovation comes from looking outside the box, not just rearranging the furniture inside it. Take a cue from cinema, which tells a story and evokes emotion. What if your next tradeshow stand was less about a product display and more about an engaging plot? Or look at the fashion industry, which is a masterclass in constant reinvention. Why can’t we apply that same energy to a booth?
Let’s challenge ourselves to build a space that’s not just functional, but makes people want to share it. Let’s use lights, sounds, and smells to create an immersive experience. Let’s get weird, get creative, and borrow ideas from every corner of the world. Because the moment we stop thinking for ourselves is the moment we become part of the problem.
Let’s agree to widen our horizons and value what great minds in different fields can lend us. Otherwise, we might as well just turn on the autopilot and call it a day.
This story originally appeared as a truncated version in the Q4 2025 issue of Exhibit City News, p. 40. For original layout, visit https://issuu.com/exhibitcitynews/docs/exhibit_city_news_-_oct_nov_dec_2025/40.
