As an education technology leader supporting K-12 digital learning, GoGuardian came to ISTE 2025 ready to make a statement. Long operating as a two-brand portfolio and having appeared side-by-side at events, ISTE ’25 marked its most unified and integrated presence to date.
Partnering with STAR, GoGuardian returned to a 20×40 footprint, pairing scale with room for connections and a more integrated cross-brand experience. Despite tight timelines and a fixed budget, STAR helped deliver a high-impact space, crafted entirely from rental components and powered by custom graphics. The result was a booth that looked and felt like an owned environment, tailored for meaningful conversations.
Trade show exhibit vision
GoGuardian’s primary objective at ISTE was to drive conversations, both with loyal customers and new prospects. With thousands of educators and decision-makers onsite, the team needed a space that could support quick demos, spontaneous chats, and moments of deeper connection. They also needed it to feel welcoming, warm, and aligned with their brand voice: thoughtful, innovative, and student-focused.
On top of that, they wanted to bring their revitalized brand to life on the show floor in a way that would turn heads and spark curiosity. They envisioned an open, experience-driven space, designed to educate, engage, and inspire.
STAR trade show rental exhibit solution
With just weeks to go before showtime, GoGuardian faced a rare challenge: their exhibit footprint had doubled from 20×20 to 20×40, but their budget had not. What followed was a deeply collaborative, multi-round process involving concept refinement, graphic development, and high-touch project management from STAR’s design and account teams.
The result was a vibrant, high-performing rental exhibit that included:
- A dedicated demo area to run presentations and facilitate large-scale education
- A barista coffee bar, offering custom-labeled lattes that became a major draw
- A personalized AI avatar station with take-home stickers
- A selfie mirror and social media wall for casual engagement and brand visibility
- Sticky note reflection station that added an element of educator interactivity
- All-new graphics developed by STAR’s in-house team, uniting GoGuardian’s refreshed identity across every surface
From print to layout to signage, the entire booth was optimized to be both engaging and on-brand, despite the fast timeline and evolving goals.
Impact of the trade show exhibit design
The GoGuardian team observed a clear increase in existing-customer engagement, supported by integrated demos and shared messaging and design. The coffee bar became a hub of activity, bringing both new prospects and loyal customers into casual conversation. The demo theater allowed for high-volume engagement, enabling the team to scale messaging without sacrificing depth.
Notable outcomes included:
- Deepened relationships with existing districts, while also supporting new pipeline.
- Internal excitement and alignment around a unified, elevated brand presence
- The in-booth theater was a standout: consistent session attendance, clear sightlines, and giving the team space to share content with small groups that ranged from thought leadership to product demos.
Perhaps most importantly, the booth felt like GoGuardian. Bold, bright, and approachable, perfectly aligned with their mission and audience.
Conclusion
GoGuardian’s presence at ISTE 2025 marks a turning point in their trade show strategy, one defined by strategic growth, meaningful engagement, and smart partnership. By embracing a rental model and trusting STAR’s creative expertise, they were able to show up bigger and bolder without sacrificing flexibility or budget.
With strong results and even stronger collaboration, GoGuardian is now looking to expand their partnership with STAR, building out an asset library and preparing for future events with the same thoughtful, high-touch approach.
