EXHIBITOR Magazine Portable Modular Awards 2025

Trade Show Blog

Exhibit Descriptions: Linda Armstrong, EXHIBITOR Magazine

2025 Portable Modular Award Winners

EXHIBITOR Magazine announced the winners of the 12th Annual Portable Modular Awards in San Antonio at EXHIBITORLIVE. Classic Exhibits was a finalist in seven categories and won in three. See below.

For a full list of the winners, CLICK HERE. Winners will be featured in the June/July issue of EXHIBITOR magazine. Our thanks to the EXHIBITOR Group, the Classic Exhibits Distributors who allowed us to submit their entries, and to the Classic Exhibits Family for their amazing contributions.

Rental Exhibit More Than 400 sf

Category: Rental Exhibit More Than 400 sf
Exhibitor: Motorola Mobility LLC
Design: Event Strategy Group
Fabrication: Classic Exhibits Inc.
Event: International Consumer Electronics Show 2024
Size: 50 x 60

They say there’s no place like home. But at the 2024 International Consumer Electronics Show, Motorola Mobility LLC proved there’s no home quite like a smart home. The firm transformed 3,000 square feet of convention center concrete into a technological tribute to domestic tranquility that made even jaded tech journalists want to kick off their shoes and stay a while.

Working with Event Strategy Group (ESG) and Classic Exhibits Inc., the team orchestrated a series of themed product areas that flowed together like well-appointed rooms in an upscale home. The strategic use of Gravitee One-Step Modular wall panels and ClassicModul Aluminum Extrusions created distinct environments that invited exploration while maintaining a cohesive aesthetic.

“They turned technology into interior design,” observed one judge, praising how the exhibit elevated consumer electronics into lifestyle statements. The muted color palette, architectural lighting, and premium finishes transformed what could have been a sterile tech display into an inviting domestic environment. Plus, by combining rental components with premium finishes, the space achieved a luxurious feel without breaking the budget.

In the end, Motorola didn’t just showcase devices. They showed us how seamlessly technology could integrate into the art of living well.

Inline Exhibit

Category: Inline Exhibit
Exhibitor: Classic Exhibits Inc.
Design: Classic Exhibits
Fabrication: Classic Exhibits
Event: EXHIBITORLIVE 2024
Size: 10 x 30

Can a 10-by-30-foot space truly command attention at a bustling trade show like EXHIBITORLIVE? Classic Exhibits Inc. proved it can. Its 2024 exhibit showcased how impactful design, combined with subtle sophistication, can create an experience that far exceeds its physical footprint.

Rising 14 feet above the show floor, a commanding LED back wall anchored the space, while lenticular walls created an unexpected analog activity. One judge praised the design as “a masterful blend of manufacturing prowess and artistic restraint,” noting how visitors were naturally drawn to discover different messages hidden within the shifting patterns as they moved through the space.

Classic Exhibits created an environment that served as a living portfolio of its capabilities, featuring custom wood-build elements, Gravitee modular wall panels, and SuperNova light boxes. Inside a private meeting area, a circular lightbox fostered an inviting atmosphere, its plant imagery softened by ghosted word art that subtly referenced company values.

The coordinated LED content on the main wall and front counters cycled through capabilities demonstrations and moments of branded serenity. The combined effect clearly communicated the firm’s capabilities and brand values, showcasing both practical demonstrations and moments of visual calm.

Island Exhibit 900 sf and Fewer

Category: Island Exhibit 900 sf and Fewer
Exhibitor: Talos Engineered Products LLC
Design: Zilla LLC
Fabrication: Classic Exhibits
Event: MODEX 2024
Size: 20 x 40

How do you make warehouse logistics look like a blockbuster attraction? While some might reach for smoke and mirrors, Talos Engineered Products LLC opted for slotted walls and LED lighting — and created such a compelling environment at MODEX 2024 that it established a new benchmark for innovative exhibit design in the logistics industry.

The 20-by-40-foot island exhibit, designed by Zilla LLC and fabricated by Classic Exhibits Inc., made an immediate impact with its massive Aero Frame sign featuring dimensional logos that commanded attention from every angle. Below, dimensional slotted wall panels illuminated by green LED lighting created a distinctive branded environment that one judge praised as “a perfect marriage of form and function.”

Throughout the space, custom counters and desks provided ample workspace for demonstrations and conversations, while cleverly integrated storage areas kept marketing materials and promotional items close at hand. The layout maintained generous open floor space for potential equipment displays while offering numerous meeting areas for both casual and semi-private discussions.

Most impressively, every element was engineered for flexibility — from the modular wood walls to the structural supports — allowing the exhibit to be reconfigured for different show environments while maintaining its custom appearance.

For over 30 years, Classic Exhibits has been designing and building creative custom solutions for our Distributor Partners and their clients. As North America’s largest private-label exhibit manufacturer, we have the unmatched capability, capacity, and creativity to create 3D projects ranging from 10 x 10 inline displays to 60 x 80 double-deck islands. 

Find success on the trade show floor with an exhibit that reflects your marketing message. For more information, see www.classicexhibits.com and explore Exhibit Design Search or request a meeting with a Classic Distributor Partner.

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