How has this pandemic changed your working life?Â
At Xzibit, it’s been a very unique 12+ months. Reflecting on the year (it is EOFY after all), we’ve seen a few trends pop up that are unprecedented – like hearing that word every day.
Do you or your organisation relate to any of these?
Zoom meetings. Lots and lots of zoom meetings. This has generally been a plus – less travel is required, we can still present and use visuals and they’re efficient. The downside? We have to wear pants because we are not WFH.Â
‘No Touch’ signs. There’s been a run on these graphics. Xzibit has designed and produced every iteration. Â
Speaking of no touching…we’re adapting touchscreen and other interactive content into video or static content. Thankfully our clients trust us when we advise that they invest in a great media player or online signage program so media updates are quick and drama-free. The above graphic used to be part of a touchscreen interactive but a few quick edits have transformed the display into a video feature. Â
Xzibit is Outback. We’ve noticed a big uptick in regional tourism and Australians exploring their own ‘backyard’. Visitor, Nature and Cultural Centres are investing in their tourism and Xzibit is blessed with an increase in Outback projects. #Bouliashire #Flindersshire #Maranoashire #LavertonshireÂ
Lockdown. Exhibits are cancelled. Stop building, start worrying, start planning, pivoting and don’t give up. That was our reality for much of the year (and continues to plague the exhibit industry, excuse the pun).
We’ve been lucky to have an amazing cadre of loyal clients and headquarters in QLD. Even though it’s been a tricky year of starts and stops, we’ve been fortunate to design, build and bump-in some major expos like the Brisbane Truck Show and Land Forces.
QR codes are back in a big way. You might be tired of ‘checking in’ but the resurgence of this tech is an opportunity in exhibits. Where clients used to invest in expensive or bulky hardware to share content, they can use QR codes to send visitors to their website or other platform. You don’t have to be a ‘digital native’ to engage with this tech. Teens to grey nomads know to use their smartphones to scan a code.
In keeping with the ‘No Touch’ graphic theme, Xzibit has also started offering a suite of Covid Safe Hire items including hand sanitiser and dispensers, capacity signage, control measure graphics, etc for our expo clients.Â
We’ve also fielded many more questions about cleaning and sanitising displays. Let us know if you’d like some pro tips on tidying up your touchscreens 😉
And for the data wonks, the pandemic has yielded a stunning number of groundbreaking reports chock full of statistics relating to visitor centres. Cuseum and Culture Track have published some wonderfully insightful reports that should shake up the field. Let’s just say that everyone should offer a virtual tour of their exhibits.
