EXHIBITOR Magazine's Exhibit Design Awards honor the world's best trade show exhibit designs. The most coveted design award in the industry, the competition draws domestic and international entrants from countries such as the Turkey, Switzerland, Israel, Australia, and The Netherlands.

Trade show exhibit designs debuting between Dec. 1, 2006, and Dec. 1, 2008, are eligible for the 2009 competition.

CATEGORIES

# Green Exhibits — Exhibits that reduce the negative impact on the environment, as realized through sustainability, eco-friendly or recycled materials, and/or a reduction of energy consumption. List all Green elements and practices involved in the entry, and if necessary, explain how they reduce the negative impact on the environment.

# Elements and Details — Innovative elements or materials that are part of a larger exhibit. Examples of an exhibit element include - a stairway, lounge, reception desk, product display, light fixture, seating ensemble, presentation stage, entranceway, kiosk, conference room, flooring, ceiling, wall, etc. Innovative materials are typically not sold through an exhibit house and include everything from sod to recycled bowling balls to tree bark to life jackets, as well as newly invented materials such as translucent concrete. Note: You may enter an individual exhibit element in this category and enter the entire exhibit in which it appears in another category. See examples.

# Small Budgets and Small Spaces — Custom exhibits measuring 10-by-10 or 10-by-20 feet with a budget of $15,000 or less.

# Island — Less than $150 per square foot

# Island — $150 per square foot or more # In-line # Peninsula — Less than $150 per square foot # Peninsula — $150 per square foot or more

# Double-Deck — Less than $150 per square foot #

Double-Deck — $150 per square foot or more

# First-time Exhibitor — Exhibits created for clients that have never exhibited in a trade show.

# Before and After — Exhibit refurbishment projects, showing "before" and "after" views. More than 50 percent of "before" exhibits must be reused in "after" projects. List reused components in synopsis, and label images "before" and "after."

# Self-Promotion — Exhibits that promote exhibit designers, producers, or manufacturers.

# International Designer — Exhibits designed by companies located outside the United States.

# International Exhibit — Exhibits designed by U.S. companies for trade shows outside the United States.

AWARDS

One EDGE Award (for Exhibit Design and Graphic Excellence) and multiple Gold, Silver, and Special Merit Awards are offered. Each winner receives a feature in EXHIBITOR's May issue, read by 30,000 corporate marketing professionals who manage trade show exhibits, corporate events, and meetings. Winning entrants also receive a trophy and a posting on the Awards Wall at the EXHIBITOR conference. All entries are considered for use in features and portfolios unrelated to the competition.

HOW TO ENTER

Eligible Entrants

Exhibit designers, fabricators, and their clients may enter. Deadline / Fees The early-bird deadline is Nov. 24, 2008, $100. The final deadline is Dec. 12, 2008, $150. Download the 2009 entry form for complete information about entry requirements (entry form, project summary, visuals, floorplan, and entry fee).

Summary Examples / Do's and Don'ts

To improve your chances of winning, see examples of well-written project summaries, including a helpful list of do's and don'ts.

CONTACT

Contact program manager Linda Armstrong at 1-972-317-1005 or larmstrong@exhibitormagazine.com if you have additional questions.