Portable exhibition stand

When United Utilities wanted a portable exhibition stand to promote the use of their ‘Save-a-flush’ product, they came to us looking for ideas.

Background

As part of a promotion encouraging people to use less water in their bathrooms, United Utilities wanted to give away packets of the Save-a-Flush crystals, designed to reduce the amount of water used in each flush, along with accompanying literature.

Challenge

Our client needed us to come up with an innovative idea that would ensure the exhibition stand design was noticed, and remembered. Also, the portable exhibition stand was to be used on a roadshow tour around industries across the North West, so our design had to be easy to carry whilst maintaining its quality and appeal.

Solution

Working with a model making partner, we designed and commissioned a 7′ model of a toilet. Hand carved from polystyrene, coated with GRP plastic and painted in high gloss white, the model had the look and feel of a real ceramic toilet.

“Over the years we have thrown pretty much everything at Parker Design.

From fast turnaround report covers to developing innovative exhibitions, their response has been consistently enthusiastic, creative, helpful and always on time.”

The look was completed with a solid wooden seat, lid and handle. To set the loo into context, we produced a pop-up stand to fit behind the model, designed with graphics to look like bathroom tiles. The entire portable exhibition stand was designed to collapse down into component parts and fit into the back of a van to allow it to be easily transported around North West venues.

The bags of crystals were piled up in the bowl of the toilet, and despite going against every better instinct, people couldn’t resist reaching in and helping themselves to one, adding an element of fun and interactivity that maximised crowd engagement.

We also wanted our client to make an impact with the accompanying literature, so we sourced a printer who could print and perforate the double-sided full colour A4 sheets on a long roll. When fitted to the oversized toilet roll holder we had made to match the toilet, the experience was complete.

The portable exhibition stand, affectionately nicknamed ‘The Big Bog’ by United Utilities staff, has been so popular that we’ve gone on to build two further matching models.