Maison Forine at Ambiente Frankfurt 2026: From Initial Sketches to 135 m² of Reality

A few days ago, I returned from Frankfurt, where we presented the brands Maison Forine and Yhome at Ambiente (6–10 February 2026) in a new, significantly larger 135 m² exhibition space.

Personally, this was one of my biggest projects in recent years – and one of the most challenging. Today, I’d like to take you through the entire process, step by step: from the first sketches on paper and multiple design iterations to coordinating production and stand construction with an international supplier.

1. Starting on Paper – Initial Sketches and Concept

It all began towards the end of last year, when we decided together with Kedaung Europe to expand our exhibition stand from previous years to a full 135 m² (9 × 15 m). See the previous year’s stand.

The main challenge was to bring together the presentation of Maison Forine’s premium glassware and Yhome’s contemporary porcelain collection, while maintaining enough open, comfortable space for business meetings and dedicated back-of-house facilities for the team.

shelves running along the perimeter, a kitchenette (2 × 3 m), two meeting rooms (each approximately 4 × 4 m), wide walkways and large LED displays to create the atmosphere of “Tabletop Poetry”.

This was also where I first introduced the idea of “see-through shelves” – transparent shelving units that allow visitors to see through them while displaying products from both sides.

These hand-drawn sketches were absolutely crucial. Digital models came much later. At this early stage, my priority was rapid iteration, understanding visitor flow and getting a feel for the space.

2. Visitor Flow Analysis – Where People Stop and Interact

Once I had the rough layout in place, I started focusing on traffic flow. At a trade fair like Ambiente, this is absolutely crucial. If a stand feels overcrowded or is difficult to navigate, visitors will simply walk past and move on.

I created a second sketch – a 2D floor plan with directional arrows mapping the visitor journey: entrance → eye-catching displays featuring colourful plates and glassware → a bar for quick product demonstrations and cocktails → a quieter rear section with private meeting rooms.

I took several key factors into account:

Walkways at least 1.5 m wide – allowing two people to walk side by side, with enough room for a trolley.
Visibility from the aisles – large illuminated Maison Forine and Yhome signs, combined with well-lit display shelving.
Clearly defined zones – the front section dedicated to product presentation, bringing glassware and porcelain together, while still providing enough space for informal interactions around the bar. The rear section was reserved for private business meetings.

I mentally walked through the space, imagining where visitors would stop to take photos, where they might sit down for ten minutes, where they would enjoy a drink and discuss potential orders.

Eventually, I made a few adjustments: extended the bar to 3 metres, moved one of the meeting rooms further towards the back and enlarged the entrance area.

3. Digital Design & Final Visualisations

Once the layout was approved, it was time to move into 3D. We refined the materials and finishes: wooden slat wall panels, a marble bar counter, black metal shelving with integrated LED lighting and dark grey velvet armchairs. I positioned the large LED displays to ensure they could be seen from a distance, featuring visuals centred around wine and dining, alongside the messages “Fired to Perfection” and “Pure Form, Bold Spirit”.

At this stage, I also focused on the finer details: shelf heights, the choice of warm or cool lighting for glassware versus porcelain, and the placement of plants to bring a more natural feel to the space.

Everything had to work together. Glassware and porcelain can complement each other beautifully, provided the colour contrasts and overall visual balance are carefully considered.

4. Production & Stand Construction Coordination with an International Supplier

This was by far the most challenging part of the project. The supplier was based elsewhere in Europe, outside the Czech Republic, so most communication took place via email, WhatsApp and video calls.

We had to coordinate all the final technical details, including the dimensioned 2D floor plan, 3D model, material specifications, graphic elements, moodboard and references from previous years.

The biggest challenge was getting all the deadlines aligned: structural production, delivery to the exhibition hall and on-site installation just 2–3 days before the fair opened.

In the end, everything came together. The stand was completed exactly as planned, the LED lighting was working perfectly and all products were beautifully illuminated and presented.

5. Graphics & Marketing Content

A successful presence at a prestigious international platform such as Ambiente Frankfurt 2026 involves much more than the stand design and its physical construction. Equally important is a comprehensive visual and communication strategythat ensures a strong and consistent brand identity throughout the entire project.

As part of the preparations, I coordinated photography, graphic design, printed materials, online content and catalogues across several parallel workstreams:

Trade Fair Visual Identity: Based on the key visual elements of Maison Forine and Yhome, we developed a consistent graphic system applied across all promotional and informational materials – from invitations and banners to business cards, website banners and digital presentations for social media.
Professional Product & Event Photography: As Ambiente is one of the world’s leading trade fairs for consumer goods and design, it was essential to ensure high-quality photographic documentation of both the products and the exhibition stand, reflecting the aesthetic and craftsmanship of the collections on display. These images were used in printed materials as well as in international online communication.
Printed Materials & Catalogues: We prepared dedicated catalogues and product sheets to present the collections, which were distributed to stand visitors and business partners. Each printed item followed the overall visual direction of the exhibition and provided clear information about the products, materials and design concepts.
Online Content & Social Media: Content for digital channels was coordinated both in the lead-up to the exhibition and throughout the event itself.
International Coordination: As the project extended beyond the local market, communication and production involved both Czech and international suppliers. Together with Czech graphic designers and photographers, we established the key concepts and visual standards, which were then translated into final production materials by external suppliers for an international audience.

This comprehensive approach to visual identity and content communication was essential in positioning Maison Forine at Ambiente Frankfurt 2026 not only as a manufacturer of high-quality designer glassware, but also as a strong, professionally presented and reliable partner in the international design and homeware market.

What I Learned

Yes, even today, starting with proper hand-drawn sketches saves a tremendous amount of time compared to jumping straight into 3D.
Visitor flow is more important than purely aesthetic considerations. A beautiful stand that nobody walks through serves little purpose.
When working with an international supplier, absolute precision in documentation and daily check-ins are essential.
And most importantly, when the finished result looks exactly as you imagined – or even better – the feeling makes all the effort worthwhile.

I’m sharing photos from both the process and the finished stand, so you can see how it all came together. If there’s any particular part of the project you’d like to know more about, feel free to get in touch.

Thank you for reading, and a big thank you to the team, the client for their trust, and all the suppliers for their excellent work and support. This project wouldn’t have been possible without you.