Where conversations begin: Our DMEXCO Cologne 2025

Of sketches and big dreams

In 2013, the small project started with two booths and big dreams. A few sketches on the plotter, lots of coffee, and short nights. Over the years, two booths grew into five, and five into significantly more.

With each year, we’ve gained a better understanding of the site. We know where the ramps are clear, when the aisles become empty, and which routes equipment and materials take. We know the time frames, the processes, and the interaction between the trades.

Above all, we’ve learned what a booth should feel like when you first enter it in the morning: warm light, clear paths, a place that invites you in and doesn’t shut you out.

Why software needs different stages

At DMEXCO, there are no shiny machines to marvel at or prototypes to touch. This is all about software and services.

That changes everything. Instead of “Look what this can do,” it’s “Let’s talk.” The booth becomes a stage, but also a living room. Open spaces for spontaneous “Hey, have you heard…” conversations. At the same time, quiet corners for important conversations where everyone around you shouldn’t overhear every word.

Functional and striking at the same time – the Pixalate stand impresses with eye-catching LED video walls, a relaxed meeting zone, and “transparent” space for more confidential discussions.

Sixteen booths in two days

2015 was a special year for us at DMEXCO. A total of sixteen booths were realized, and around one thousand square meters of stand space was built. It was both exhausting and fascinating.

Many of our clients came from the USA. The briefings were often brief, sometimes no more than an email with logos, colors, and budget. This is precisely what we excel at: developing concepts from minimal input that work and fit the brand.

We experienced how a meeting point can also become a stage at the Shazam booth: When the DJ duo “Gestört aber Geil” played live for two hours, the booth attracted visitors like a magnet.

When trust turns into friendship

Over the years, we’ve worked with brands that have shaped us. Shazam was an early adopter. HubSpot, Asana, Oracle, Spotify, and Vevo brought new perspectives. For years, we’ve been designing a meeting place for the BVDW (Federal Association of German Industry and Commerce) that facilitates exchange and is visible in the heart of the Koelnmesse Boulevard.

What binds these encounters together is trust. Anyone who experiences a customer saying after the first day of the trade fair that the right conversations took place here today, will never forget it.

Less noise, more clarity

DMEXCO is becoming more digital, but not necessarily louder. LED walls are now standard, but the truly interesting developments are happening more subtly.

Exhibition stands are becoming more open – fewer booths, more visible zones. Acoustics are being planned more consciously. Instead of numerous small rooms, quiet islands are being created that facilitate conver­sations without fragmenting the stand.

And then there are the small details: a counter where people like to pause, materials that feel warm, places where you can work for a short while. Content spots where you can quickly take a photo are becoming increasingly important.

Modularity is becoming routine – elements that can be adapted and reused. Sustainability is not a marketing gimmick, but a practical necessity.

Maximum impact on minimal space: The Productsup corner stand combines open brand presence with a screened area for business discussions.

“Be Bold”– and what that means to us

DMEXCO 2025 once again took place this year at the Koelnmesse exhibition center. The official motto was: “Be Bold. Move Forward.” A claim that demands a lot, but only has substance if it is reflected in real decisions. For us, ‘bold’ doesn’t mean loud, garish, or exaggerated – but consistent in concept, architecture, and implementation. Plan boldly, communicate clearly, and create spaces where conversations arise that have an impact.

Three projects we were able to realize at DMEXCO in 2025 demonstrated how this works in practice:

The BVDW booth is a good example of continuous development instead of radical new beginnings. We’ve been implementing this concept on the Koelnmesse Boulevard for several years now – each year we refine it further, each year with greater precision. In 2025, we once again demonstrated that consistency is not a contradiction to bold design: clear brand architecture, strong visibility – and selective highlights that tangibly liven up the booth without overloading it. The result: high traffic, strong presence, and a satisfied customer. “Never change a running system” works – if you develop it intelligently.

Pixalate demonstrated how bold a brief brief can be. What began as a two-line email (“We need something open, but with a strong focal point”) developed into one of the most attention-grabbing booths at the trade fair. LED video walls integrated into the walls and ceiling, an open meeting zone with a relaxed atmosphere, and a glass-enclosed conference room for confidential discussions – both functional and striking. An on-site barista ensured additional traffic – and precisely the kind of conversational opportunities that count at DMEXCO.

For RTB House, we took a completely different approach. The challenge here was to make personality visible – true to the client’s slogan, “Truly Personalized.” The solution: Illuminated LED frames that could be changed at the touch of a button attracted attention without being obtrusive. What color should it be? Our client had great fun making the illuminated frames glow in different colors depending on the time of day and the mood. A simple technical feature that acted like a magnet: people stopped to stop because the booth was virtually interactive.

These three projects demonstrate what ‘Bold’ means to us: design with attitude, solutions with a clear focus, and trade fair presentations that don’t appear arbitrary – but rather stay.

Customizable at the touch of a button: LED frames and open meeting areas made the RTB House booth a vibrant eye-catcher at DMEXCO.

That one step that decides everything

In the end, it’s a brief moment that makes all the difference: Someone turns around as they pass by, pauses briefly, smiles, and takes the first step toward the booth. From then on, people take over. We ensure that the space provides the right incentives for these “little moments.”

Let’s talk!

We’ve been an integral part of DMEXCO for over ten years. With our location in Cologne, just minutes from Koelnmesse, we know every corner of the fairgrounds and understand what your brand needs to succeed.