Building Diamonds in a Cardboard Exhibition Stand

Unlike a traditional 4x4 frame concept, the project would include many elements that would come together to create a breathtaking exhibition stand that could be seen from anywhere in the conference.

The project comprised of:
• 186 hanging diamonds
• 150 linear M of planters
• Totems
• Dragon structure
• Eagle structure

All of which needed to be created from cardboard.

We were presented with a full design and 3D visual from the client and it was our job to translate that design into a real-life creation through the concept of cardboard engineering. Traditionally, an exhibition stand for this criteria would have been made from MDF. MDF is not an environmentally-conscious material as many formats contain formaldehyde, a chemical that can be harmful if it is inhaled in large quantities. To address this issue, some countries have introduced regulations to limit the amount of formaldehyde that can used in MDF production, but it still remains labour intensive and cannot be easily recyclable. Here at Imageco, we're green to the core. We are always on the lookout for new, green alternative products that we can offer within our services to help lower both our clients’ and our own impact on the environment.

For this project, we chose one of our favourite products: Xanita fibreboard. Supplied by Antalis, Xanita board is an engineered fibreboard that is manufactured from fibres recovered from recycled cardboard boxes and is 100% repulpable. It offers both functionality and sustainability, with its lightweight but rigid properties allowing it to be used for 3D structures. Our expertise in cardboard engineering and build is second to none. We have a talented team of project managers and structural engineers, along with software, that many in the industry have yet to acquire. It’s one of the reasons we were selected to oversee this project, even in a new region as the skillset in this area remains very limited. Not only this, but we have learned to be adaptable and think outside of the box when it comes to incorporating new sustainable materials.

In this project, we didn’t just stick to safe exhibition frames that we knew would be structurally sound – we looked to create new cardboard creations that we hadn’t done before. For example, a dragon built from cardboard isn’t a usual request and not something we could easily replicate from previous projects. Our in-house cardboard and structural engineer, Dean Sharp, used software to conceptualise the dragon – how many components it would require, how it would interlink for a build, and how it would stay in place once installed. This process applied to every element that was created for this project. We had to identify what could be made from our key material, Xanita board from the very beginning of this project, using the concepts to determine what would be possible.

The project was overseen by our Project Manager, Jonathan, to ensure a seamless process, from receiving the brief to the final installation. He ensured the final exhibition components matched the brief and constantly kept the client informed throughout the project surrounding any progress updates. The project lasted over a year, and planning was so crucial due to the scale of the project. The brief was taken in July 2023, and installation took place in May 2024. To deliver the eccentric exhibition stand, the shipping took place in 3 articulated lorries that were specialised to deliver wide format print to protect the creation during the delivery process. Each element of this project was created entirely bespoke, and for us, the clients, and all attendees who visited the conference, this project demonstrated what is possible with cardboard. It was a real case study of how companies can switch out less sustainable products like MDF and still create structures and stands that are impactful.