The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) holds its annual EXPO in a different US city each time, and every other four years this coincides with the Presidential Election which adds shall we say a little something special to the proceedings. This year the event like so many others has moved online. While key trends and innovations are not always as readily identifiable in the digital format, there have been some exciting new developments on the show booths as well as those introduced in the education presentations.  Although centered around the North American market the virtual format makes this a more global event - after all the second ‘I’ in IFAI is ‘International’.

Virtually evolving

The trade show in its virtual format is evolving at a considerable pace.  The challenge being to present something that exhibitors, presenters and attendees will recognise and navigate comfortably without trying to digitally replicate the in-situ trade show in an overly literal way.  The virtual expo format worked well with a clear landing page to then navigate through the main areas from booths to education events with the only real sticky point being the initial access. 

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