Exhibiting Trends from NPEW 2025
- Travis Stanton
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
When it comes to trend-watching, some shows are better than others. For example, the Natural Products Expo, held annually in Anaheim, is a great event that brings together creative in-line exhibits and polished island spaces all teeming for attendees’ attention. As such, the frenetic show floor becomes a catalyst for “what’s cool” in exhibit design. And the trends demonstrated there often reverberate throughout not just other food-industry events, but exhibit halls serving wholly unrelated industries for years to come. Here, then, is a look at the trends Storylink Creative identified at NPEW 2025.
1. Bold Color Blocking
Vibrant, color-block patterns dominated the show floor. From punchy palettes to more muted shades, brands used solid-color segmenting to spotlight different products and quickly convey the bredth and depth of their offerings. What’s more, the resulting vibrancy attracted attention and invited them to shop these trendy stands in search of their favorite flavor or variety versus homing in on a particular featured product and moving along.
2. Brand‑Appropriate Details
Some might say the devil’s in the details, but when it comes to exhibit design, it’s often delight (not Beelzebub) that’s found in those unexpected flourishes. For example, one exhibitor turned blasé booth furnishings into whimsical brand-building elements by affixing vinyl letters to acrylic chairs. Another installed a traditional chocolate fountain but filled it with Stuzzi Hot Sauce instead. Meanwhile, a third added a “nutty vibe” to its space by encasing whole walnuts inside its clear acrylic tabletop. Each detail felt deliberate and aligned with brand storytelling.
3. Hands‑On Engagements
Interactivity is a pervasive trend. After all, this is live marketing we’re talking about. Why settle for a staid sampling experience when you can encourage guests to mix and match their own takeaway sack of treats? Why merely splay your swag on a draped table for all to take when you can turn that otherwise passive engagement into an experience that facilitates staff-attendee interaction? Our favorite engagement was simple yet effective: Violife promoted its dairy-free cheese by asking guests to respond to one of several textual prompts by writing their “creamy confession” on a sticker and affixing it to a mirrored wall that become equal parts activation and immersive modern art.
4. Monochromatic Booths
While some exhibitors opted to color block, others went all in on a single corporate hue. The resulting monochromatic spaces captured attention and created immersive spaces without relying on the kind of multimedia magic one might otherwise require for such spaces. Take, for example, Guittard Chocolate Co.’s sophisticated all-white stand, Bauducco’s vibrant-yellow design, or Nature’s Bakery’s pink-themed bakery. Each reinforced strong, focused brand identities by choosing one Crayon in the box and doubling down.
5. Audiovisual Integration
A/V tech often takes experiential design to the next level. But far too often, LED screens end up haphazardly integrated without a lot of finesse (or effort put toward appropriate content). Tropicana’s booth featured a well-integrated LED wall broadcasting vibrant imagery and brand content. Meanwhile, Liquid I.V. proved that AV installations need not be reserved for island spaces. Its bold in-line exhibit clad corner walls and a portion of its back wall in LED tiles, and the dynamic content displayed was multimedia magic. Finally, one bee-themed booth integrated small monitors into faux beehive racks, creating an immersive, theme-driven display that gave guests a bee’s eye view inside the hive.
6. Raw Wood & Natural Finishes
Balancing the bright colors and tech found in many booths, some marketers zigged where others zagged and opted for elegant raw wood textures. This trend might seem obvious, considering the natural/organic focus of the show, but Storylink continues to see an increasing number of companies putting their Green foot forward by incorporating these refined approaches to otherwise rustic materials. Furthermore, these natural elements echo brands’ eco-friendly ethos and grounds modern technology with tactile warmth.
7. New-School Neon
Classy or quirky, neon signage made statements. No, these are not your father’s delicate and finicky neon relics. Today’s neon signage incorporate LED technology that retains all the pros associated with the old-school alternatives without any of the inherent drawbacks. Their brightness really pops, even in brightly lit show floors, especially when paired with matte or textural backgrounds. And oftentimes, merely pulling attendees’ attention away from their smart phones and into your space is half the exhibit-marketing battle.
Why These Trends Matter
By weaving together color, texture, tech, and interaction, exhibitors created multi-sensory experiences that resonated with both retailers and consumers. These seven trends offer a design roadmap for future trade shows: bold aesthetics balanced with smart tech and playful, personalized interactions — crafting experiences that linger well after the show lights go down.
Memorable branding: Color dominance and signature details ensure booth recall in crowded exhibit halls.
Engaged audiences: Interactive features invite visitors to linger, sample, and share — deepening engagement.
Amplified storytelling: Clean AV integration and tactile materials unify narrative design.
Social shareability: Vibrant visuals and Instagram-ready layouts boost exhibitors’ earned media and social visibility.
Looking to turn these trends into a trade show exhibit that’s sure to catch attendees’ eyes? Contact us now to learn how Storylink can help turn a blasé booth into a trend-setting attendee magnet.
