Guiding a Global Audience

Each year, the International Production & Processing Expo fills the entire Georgia World Congress Center, welcoming a global audience to one of the largest trade shows in the industry. With hundreds of thousands of square feet across multiple halls and levels, clear wayfinding is critical to the attendee experience.

When winter weather and facility challenges added pressure to an already complex environment, GES partnered closely with the IPPE team to ensure the show remained safe, navigable, and easy to explore.

IPPE occupies more than 660,000 net square feet and spans the full convention center campus. Attendees arrive from around the world, many navigating the venue for the first time and often across language barriers. At the same time, icy conditions during move‑in and snow during move‑out required flexibility and close coordination, while water line and HVAC issues during the show elevated the need for safe, well‑maintained aisles and clear circulation.

The challenge was to help tens of thousands of people move confidently through a massive space while adapting to real‑time operational conditions.

GES built the show floor experience around intuitive wayfinding. Color‑driven navigation guided attendees from registration through key areas of the campus, creating visual clarity that worked across languages. Wide, carpeted cross aisles formed a recognizable “main street,” while floor graphics directed attendees between product categories.

Illuminated Versa light boxes and strategically placed “You Are Here” maps acted as clear visual landmarks, helping attendees orient themselves quickly in a multi‑level venue. Behind the scenes, GES adjusted labor schedules around weather conditions and maintained clean, safe aisles throughout the event. Timeless entrance elements and IPPE branding continued to serve as both wayfinding anchors and engagement moments year after year.

Attendees were able to navigate the show floor faster and more intuitively, even at an exceptional scale. Clear visual cues reduced confusion, improved traffic flow, and supported a safer experience despite weather and facility challenges. For IPPE, the result was a show that felt approachable, organized, and easy to navigate, proving that strong wayfinding plays a vital role in the success of large, global events.