Boldyn Networks
The Opportunity
Boldyn Networks came to EDUCAUSE 2024 at a transformational moment: following their acquisition of Apogee Telecom in May 2024, they were preparing to officially rebrand Apogee as Boldyn Networks for higher education in November 2024.
EDUCAUSE represented a critical opportunity to reintroduce Boldyn to the higher education community—their core audience—as a confident, cutting-edge connectivity leader.
The goal was to make a bold first impression with a 20×20 exhibit that would drive brand recognition, demonstrate their expanded capabilities, and position them as both a technology leader and a welcoming partner to colleges and universities across the show floor.
The Challenge
To meet the moment, Boldyn’s 20×20 island booth had to deliver maximum visual impact while working within strict venue constraints:
- Create towering presence without rigging. Making a memorable first impression meant standing tall—literally. Boldyn wanted an exhibit that commanded attention across the show floor and signaled their elevated capabilities. The challenge? Show regulations prohibited rigging. We needed a creative structural solution to achieve dramatic height and visibility that stood up on its own.
- Establish new brand identity in established market. Having built strong relationships in higher education over 25+ years, they needed to honor that legacy while confidently introducing a bold new identity—one that was colorful, modern, and unafraid to stand apart in a typically conservative industry.
- Support comprehensive hospitality programming. The space needed to function for organized catering activations spanning the entire show—targeting different crowds at different times with varied food and drink experiences, informal meetings, and giveaway displays.
- Align brand identity with emotional experience. Boldyn wanted to become synonymous with welcome and hospitality — not just technology. That meant designing a space that fostered genuine connection, created “wow” moments without taking itself too seriously, and stood apart from the corporate sea of sameness.
Our Approach
We delivered a visually striking, technically sophisticated exhibit that positioned Boldyn Networks as a future-forward industry leader — and a brand that knows how to host.
- Structural innovation within constraints. We designed a central tower with interlocking bridge structure using modular framing systems—creating the dramatic vertical presence Boldyn needed for their higher education debut without rigging. This bold architectural move delivered height and visibility within venue regulations while immediately distinguishing them from competitors.
- Bold brand introduction. Boldyn's signature magenta took center stage, balanced with white and navy for striking visual contrast that announced their arrival. A suspended LED video billboard and LED tile walls displayed dynamic content showcasing their expanded capabilities. App-controlled uplights illuminated the overhead canopy in brand colors, while light box floor pieces created illuminated structural layering that reinforced their interconnected technology theme.
- Hospitality infrastructure that delivers on brand promise. A central bar concealed catering supplies and mini-fridge, while an angled closet structure incorporated functional storage without sacrificing openness. This setup supported multiple hospitality activations throughout the show—reinforcing Boldyn's brand positioning around welcome, connection, and partnership.
- Emotional impact through design. From food and beverage activations to thoughtful giveaway displays, every element was designed to feel human, inviting, and generous, helping Boldyn deliver on its mission to make every visitor feel welcome.
The Result
A visually striking 20×20 island exhibit that successfully introduced Boldyn Networks to the higher education community as a confident, capable connectivity leader.
The bold structural solution—towering overhead despite rigging restrictions—immediately distinguished Boldyn on the show floor and signaled their elevated capabilities to longtime customers and new prospects alike. The comprehensive hospitality programming drove consistent traffic throughout the show, creating the kind of organic engagement that helped transition existing relationships while building new ones under the Boldyn brand.
The exhibit successfully positioned them not just as Apogee’s successor, but as an expanded partner with global expertise, broader capabilities, and a distinctive approach to both technology and customer relationships.
