How AI Helped Bring an Award-Winning Exhibit Design to Life
- Leo Douglas
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
In March 2026, one of my booth designs won Best of Show in its category at NPEW 2026 in Anaheim.
The project was created while I was working with WCE — West Coast Exhibit Services, and it became a strong example of where exhibit design is heading: not away from traditional design skill, but into a new workflow where design experience, 3D modeling, rendering, and AI-assisted tools work together.
I’m also sharing a 20-second video with this post that shows how the design and visualization process came together using SketchUp, SU Podium, Adobe Firefly, and Runway.
The Design Process
The booth was developed in SketchUp and rendered with SU Podium, which has been part of my design workflow for years. The full design and visualization process took roughly 40 hours, from concept development through final presentation visuals.
Like most exhibit projects, the work started with the fundamentals: layout, brand presence, traffic flow, sightlines, scale, materials, and how the space would feel on a real trade show floor.
Those are the bones of the project.
AI did not replace that.
The booth still needed a designer’s eye. It needed proportion, hierarchy, storytelling, and a clear understanding of how exhibits are actually built.
Where AI Came Into the Workflow
After the core design was created, I used Adobe Firefly prompting and Runway video tools to help bring the presentation closer to a real show-site experience.
That is the part I think more people in the exhibit industry should be paying attention to.
AI can help take a static rendering and push it closer to a live experience. It can enhance atmosphere, lighting, realism, camera movement, and storytelling. It can help clients understand not just what a booth looks like, but how it might feel inside a real convention center.
That is powerful.
But it only works when the person using the tool understands design.
The 20-Second Video
The attached 20-second video shows how the design came to life through a combination of traditional 3D workflow and AI-assisted visualization.
The foundation was built in SketchUp.The rendering was developed with SU Podium. The atmosphere and visual direction were enhanced through Adobe Firefly prompting. The motion and presentation storytelling were pushed further with Runway.
For me, that is where the workflow becomes exciting.
It is not about using AI to replace the design process. It is about using AI to extend the design process — to make the work more immersive, more cinematic, and easier for clients to understand before anything is built.
The Prompt Matters — But the Design Eye Matters More
There is a lot of conversation right now about AI in creative industries. Some people see it as a shortcut. Some see it as a threat. I see it as a tool.
In exhibit design, AI is not enough by itself.
A prompt cannot fully understand booth codes, fabrication logic, brand standards, client expectations, traffic flow, hanging signs, flooring transitions, sightlines, SEG graphics, reception placement, storage needs, demo zones, or how a project moves from concept to production.
That knowledge still comes from experience.
The prompt matters.The design eye matters more.
Why This Matters for Exhibit Design
The trade show industry moves fast. Deadlines are tight. Clients want polished visuals early. Sales teams need strong presentations. Designers are expected to move quickly while still producing work that feels thoughtful, realistic, and buildable.
AI-assisted workflows can help with that.
Used correctly, tools like Firefly, Runway, Sora, ComfyUI, and other creative AI platforms can support stronger concept visualization, better storytelling, and more engaging presentations.
They can help bring energy to the work before the booth ever reaches the show floor.
But the foundation still has to be strong.
Good design still starts with understanding space, brand, people, and purpose.
A New Chapter for Visualization
Winning Best of Show in its category was a proud moment, but the bigger takeaway for me is seeing how much potential there is in combining traditional exhibit design skills with new creative tools.
SketchUp gave the project structure.SU Podium gave it rendering depth.Firefly helped push the visual atmosphere.Runway helped bring the story into motion.
Together, those tools helped turn a booth concept into something people could feel.
That is where I think the future of exhibit visualization is going.
Not just better renderings.Better storytelling.
Not just pretty images.Clearer experiences.
And not AI replacing designers.Designers using AI with intention.
Closing Thought
This project reminded me that the tools may change, but the goal stays the same: create spaces that communicate, attract, and leave an impression.
AI is opening a new door for exhibit designers, experiential designers, and creative directors.
The question is not whether we should use it.
The question is how well we can guide it.
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