History of Nomadic and the pop up

Ted Zeigler is the inventor of the Nomadic Instand display, the flagship product of Nomadic Display.

Over thirty years ago, Zeigler left a successful career as a graphic artist to pursue his personal fascination with designing folding forms. His research into mechanical physics yielded a number of patents...some of which were used to develop the Nomadic Instand. In 1975, he founded Nomadic Display to market his innovative display system.

Today, he guides the development of applying his technology to the creation of products for a number of other industries.

"I believe that everyone has imagination; a deep-seated need to dream of things you've never thought before. Your imagination can be a powerful force in your life, if you are willing to allow pure, free-ranging ideas to direct you...and if you have the faith to follow where your imaginings lead.

That's the way it's been for me and Nomadic Display. Through experimental research I invented and patented the Nomadic Instand, I founded Nomadic Display to manufacture and distribute the product. Both the company and the display are by-products of over thirty years of exploration.

I'm an inventor, an entrepreneur. I'm fiercely driven to create new things... to experiment... to explore new territory. I've spent years in single-minded devotion to my experiments with three-dimensional folding forms.

After more than a dozen years of manufacturing and marketing the Instand, I still review and refine its components and am at work on new designs... to maintain our position as the industry leader in high quality, portable display systems.

Today, I'm deeply involved in new ventures, in my endeavors, I put the creative process to work: I simply start with an idea, let it draw me along, and have faith that my next "toe hold" will be there when I reach for it. To me, that's the true wonder of IMAGINATION!"

From Ted Zeigler's fascination with mechanical physics almost thirty years ago... to the success of Nomadic Instand today... Nomadic Display's vision has maintained a powerful focus. Led by Zeigler's creative instincts and talents, Nomadic's commitment to pioneering display products has never wavered nor changed.

Today's Nomadic Instand evolved naturally from Zeigler's dedication to finding innovative solutions through progressive research. Nomadic Instand's success as the market-leading display system is a testament to the surprising practicality of IMAGINATION.

The discovery of Nature's pattern for fundamental building blocks.

In the late 1960's, commercial artist Ted Zeigler began experimenting with shapes and forms - building structures of blocks, folding paper into geometric shapes.

He became fascinated by the metamorphosis of solid objects: their ability to move and change. "Through pure experimentation," said Zeigler, "I uncovered a fundamental principle behind the geometric building blocks in Nature: two-dimensional, geometric shapes - when ganged together - become three-dimensional forms, called Polyhedrons."

Ted avidly studied the works of R. Buckminster Fuller; architect, engineer, philosopher, creative thinker... and the inventor of the geodesic dome. Fuller's domes were based on the same geometric shapes which fascinated Zeigler, and they inspired Ted to continue his research.

Early prototype collapse reveals a surprising design breakthrough.

Hurriedly assembling a three-dimensional structure made of wooden dowels, Ted used tape rather than glue to fasten the vertexes (where the dowels join). Not realizing the tape formed flexible hinges, he watched with rapt fascination as the form collapsed into a small, neat bundle.

"I was curious. Amazed... A whole new dimension of design opened to me". Zeigler envisioned forms that accordion into a small fraction of their expanded volume: large wall structures that fold in moments to suitcase size.

Zeigler's structure springs up, locks in place in an instant.

Through further research, Zeigler pursued the folding concept in earnest, and went on to develop enhancements. He discovered a way to harness the internal tension of his collapsible structure, once erected. Zeigler's patented self-locking geometry locked the structure rigidly in place without the use of fasteners or clips; much like "locking" your elbow by over extending your arm.

"My forms are true 'space structures'," says Zeigler. "They exist in three-dimensional space... and are structurally strong, rigid, and stable. Like Buckminster fuller's geodesic domes, the larger my structures are, the stronger they become."

A prototype becomes the first Nomadic Instand.

Zeigler built the first Nomadic Instand prototype using his structural design principles. With a gentle curve along its length, the prototype stood up with no exterior support. He realized it would make a fine display frame because of its light weight, stability, and compact portability. "I saw my pure research prototype turn into a unique and marketable product," says Zeigler.

"I poured energy into the Instand. It was exciting work that drew me along." The new product immediately attracted attention. With rapidly growing sales, it quickly became the leading portable display frame.

Nomadic Instand: The revolutionary new Display Frame.

Old-style displays are bulky, heavy constructions that can take several hours - up to half a day - to set up. The Instand is clearly a breakthrough: in under 15 seconds, the frame is up, securely locked in place, and ready for fabric or graphic panels. At any trade show, the first exhibit up - and the first one down is bound to be a Nomadic Instand.

There are other collapsible display frames on the market, but none compare to Nomadic Instand. Only Instand has complete cross-bracing throughout the entire frame for strength and stability. Only Instand has a steel-against-steel hub for long-life durability at all the critical high stress joints. And only Instand has a unique, patented self-locking feature.

The Nomadic Instand is the highest quality portable display frame on the market today, overwhelmingly superior to other displays. Nomadic Display backs this claim with a "No Questions Asked" Lifetime Warranty, providing coverage unmatched in the display industry.

The Nomadic Instand has come a long way: from a workshop phenomenon, to a leadership position in the display industry.

Ted Zeigler feels strongly about the rewards of following your own inner callings: "Nomadic Instand is the proof. If you let your creativity run free, and back it up with good, hard work, you may be surprised at the power of your own IMAGINATION!"