The world has shrunk; air fares have become cheaper and, these days, most of us think nothing about nipping on an early morning flight and spending a day or so at an exhibition. For many of us, it's easier and quicker than trawling the length and breadth of Britain to visit an event and, as a result, European trade shows have become de facto places for anyone with an interest in what's going on in their industry.

Fast-growing technologies always draw a crowd. Wide-format digital print has been a popular attraction since the days of its inception when futuristic devices and astonished visitors were commonplace in crowded aisles. Digital prints cast onto the floor helped promote their durability, and rot the soles of the shoes of those walking over them. Software sometimes worked and sometimes didn't, rather like the early machines themselves, but we saw technology's growth on a common platform and judged for ourselves when it was ripe enough to be considered worthy of further investigation.

Exhibitions are unique in this respect. The sign-making shows of yesteryear were held in a couple of rooms high above Kensington High Street before moving to race courses and, ultimately, to the NEC. Screen-printing and graphic arts events have been spread around the world for far longer than I can remember. But the changes I've witnessed in the past 30 years have seen trade fairs metamorphose into places where visitors can learn about everything to do with their industry, all conveniently located in one place.

You can discover a lot by attending local exhibitions but to see truly how the rest of the world works, visiting international events is a real eye opener for it is at these shows where major launches are focused. Manufacturers pull out the stops to get all their relevant equipment up and running, and the space and facilities afforded by the respective venues make the effort worthwhile.

So, yes, it's certainly worth going to as many trade shows as you can. You not only get a concentrated view of what the rest of a continent or, even, the world is doing. You also get the chance to discover how your counterparts in different countries are working with the various technologies and machines.

Business owners should also get their design and production teams out and about at these events. These people can soak up information relevant to their day-to-day skills and bring home valuable thoughts and opinions. Students, too, should grab a cheap air fare and see what's driving their future industry.

Exhibitions are unique. There is no other way of getting a comprehensive yet unbiased digest of trends, technologies and the right people to talk to in a single location.