Creativeworld 2016 | Creativeworld Trends and Floor Tour

Craft News

Feb 24

Welcome to part two of my look at Creativeworld 2016, put on by Messe Frankfurt in Frankfurt, Germany! In case you missed it, you can check out part one here.

[Disclosure: Messe Frankfurt is a sponsor of this website, and sponsored my travel to Creativeworld 2016.]

Creativeworld is based in Hall 4 of the massive Messe Frankfurt complex. Hall 4 is a three story building with a beautiful atrium that is located directly next to the Torhaus services building where the Messe's S-Bahn train station, press center, and many exhibitor services are located. Each of the levels of the building is designated by a decimal point - 4.0, 4.1, 4.2.

The Creativeworld show takes up all of Hall 4.1, and half of Hall 4.2 (which it shares with Paperworld), while Hall 4.0 is occupied by Paperworld.

While technically part of Paperworld, there is also "Creative Materials" sourcing in the International Sourcing section located in Hall 10. That hall features three whole floors of international sourcing companies like this bead manufacturer, Banaras Beads Limited, who was located in Hall 10.2.

(Photo Source - Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Jean-Luc Valentin)

No matter what language you speak, it's easy to find what you are looking for with Messe Frankfurt's simple signage. The signs for the various different shows are also color coded, for easy visual reference. Christmasworld, which is also going on at the Messe during Creativeworld, is appropriately color coded red!

Since credentials are checked at the entrance to the entire complex, the entrances to the actual exhibit halls are very low-key and free of blockages or staff. Once you are inside the Messe complex during Creativeworld, you are free to come and go from any of the shows underway in the Messe, no matter which show you are credentialed under. This generates a lot of crossover traffic as (for instance) Christmasworld buyers can seek out craft supplies in the Creativeworld halls, or Creativeworld vendors can find new sources in Paperworld's Asian sourcing halls.

On Hall 4.2, as you walk in the doors (to the left in the photo below), a change in carpet color marks the divide down the center of the hall between Paperworld and Creativeworld. Paperworld is an extremely large show divided into sub-sections that occupy multiple buildings. The section in Hall 4.2 is school supplies, with a lot of displays of backpacks for kids usually visible across the aisle from Creativeworld.

Despite the massive number of people in the building, the wide main aisles create a feeling of spaciousness and prevent traffic jams.

Some secondary aisles are narrower but with wider aisles to choose from for transiting through areas, they are limited to "local traffic", keeping them congestion-free.

The ceiling in Hall 4 is much lower than is typical in large American convention centers, but it doesn't prevent the use of overhead signage, like these in the Staedtler booth. The lower ceiling has another benefit: noise control. Without echo created by a huge high ceiling, background noise in Hall 4 is fairly quiet. Conversation is easily possible in the halls.

The education program at Creativeworld is held entirely in the "Creative Talks" area in the middle of the show floor. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. A variety of lectures and hands-on workshops were offered on trends and various aspects of the industry. Despite the open seating, there were always at least a few available seats when I passed by. Translation headsets are available in English for seminars presented in German.

Another event available on the Creativeworld show floor is "Creativeworld Trends". Staged with the assistance of trend bureau bora.herke.palmisano, this year the trends display explored three themes: form, surface, and pattern.

The Creativeworld trends show has two major parts. One is a walk-through display, exhibiting examples of the selected trends for each focus.

(Photo Source - Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Jean-Luc Valentin)

The other part of the Creativeworld trends display is a workstation where show attendees can get hands-on with some of the trends shown in the walk-through displays.

(Photo Source - Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Jean-Luc Valentin)

Here's a closer look at each of the trend focus areas, with images sharing items from each of the displays:

(Photo Source - Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH)

Thanks for reading part two of my tour of Creativeworld 2016, and don't miss part one if you haven't already seen it! Check back later this week for more in my Creativeworld series of reports!

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Nancy Nally

I’m the owner of Nally Studios LLC, which owns the websites Nally Studios and Craft Critique. I’ve spent the last 20 years working in the crafts industry as a writer and marketing consultant. My newest venture is the Nally Studios etsy store, where I sell digital files for scrapbookers. I live in Florida with my husband, teenage daughter, and a cat who thinks its a dog.

https://www.nallystudios.etsy.com