When you look at your upcoming trade show calendar, do you already know what exhibit—or exhibits—you’ll use for all of those dates? If you’re planning your design from scratch, do you know which trade show trends would work best for your brand? If you’ve been using the same display for the last few seasons, what would an update look like? If you’re pondering these questions, you’re in the right place. Whether you’re adding new shows to your calendar or exhibiting at the same events as last year, here’s what to consider when browsing for inspiration.
The best exhibits are tailored to your needs to help you achieve your specific event marketing goals. While the overall exhibit design and the choice of individual display elements will vary widely from exhibit to exhibit, one consistent trait of all successful designs is professional graphics. If your in-house team is experienced with creating graphics on a large scale and has the equipment on hand to do so, you’re in great shape. If not, you should strongly consider working with a professional and experienced exhibit house.
The scale of trade show graphics means special considerations will need to be kept in mind as you design your signs. Above all, your signs will need to be readable at a glance. Make sure your fonts are clear and legible, both up close and at a distance, and be sure to maintain a good balance between the amount of text and the amount of empty space. The idea isn’t to cram as much visual information as possible into your signs; instead, aim for drawing eyes in and making brains curious about what they’re seeing. Optimal placement of your graphics is also a key concern: Your exhibit walls may be the perfect backdrop for your huge signs, but it’s important to make sure your graphics aren’t obstructed by your booth elements.
This is where enlisting the services of experienced exhibit design professionals will stand you in good stead. Professionals will consider your design’s visual appeal from all distances and angles. Designs that look great on a monitor can fail to translate visually when printed at scale; graphics experts will make sure that doesn’t happen with your exhibit. They’ll also take sightlines and your overall visual strategy into consideration. Professional graphics can come in virtually any shape or size and may be printed on a wide variety of materials; screen-printed fabrics are an increasingly popular choice due to their flexibility and versatility, though they’re only one of many options. Graphics professionals will work to incorporate your brand’s logo, fonts, and color scheme into your signs while keeping your trade show goals and your overall exhibit design firmly in mind.
Your trade show booth space is a blank canvas. If you can dream up an idea, it can be realized in that space. That said, your show goals should still be the driving force behind the design of your floor plan.
If your goals include debuting a new product or showing off your wares to as many attendees as possible via a live demonstration or a video presentation, you’ll want to make sure your floor plan provides for sufficient space devoted to that activity. That may mean including more than one designated demonstration area, or double-checking your sightlines to make sure passersby can catch the action. You’ll also need to decide whether dedicated seating or purposefully empty space for standing-room-only viewers would be a better option.
Maybe you’re trying to sign up new clients right there at the show. If that’s the case, including a semi-private or private meeting space in your design is a great idea. To maximize a small space, consider adding a staircase and a second level to your display. Trade show exhibits are complex, so the best way to make sure you’ll end up with a design capable of helping you achieve all your trade show goals is to partner with professionals.
When you’re weighing trade show exhibit ideas, consider how your display will engage your visitors’ senses. Use visuals and tactile appeal to transport visitors off of a hectic trade show floor and into an enticing—and brand-appropriate—new environment. Think about medical devices displayed in a sleek clinical setting, or an artisanal product showcased in an exhibit patterned after a rustic cottage in the woods , or a commercial aerospace service provider choosing an exhibit designed to look like a VIP airport lounge .
Not every exhibit needs to appeal to every sense. However, every exhibit can use aural and visual appeal to connect with audiences. The strategic use of technology such as video installations, virtual or augmented reality, or immersive touchscreens can help exhibit visitors interact and engage with your brand.
If you’re in the fortunate position of having the in-house expertise needed to design and create your trade show exhibit, along with the necessary fabrication and printing equipment and space, you’re set. If this is outside of your realm of experience, partnering with professionals will save you a world of hassles. An experienced design firm will work closely with you to plan and build the best possible exhibit for your trade show goals; they’ll also be able to handle all the logistical needs necessary for a successful appearance, including shipping, installation, and post-show storage of your display. Whatever your idea, a professional design firm will be able to skillfully shape it and execute it to showcase your brand or product at its best.
ProExhibits has helped the world’s best brands connect with audiences for decades. Named as an EXHIBITOR Top 40 company, our unique, custom-built trade show exhibits win industry awards and recognition—and make the right impression on your visitors. Contact us today. We look forward to helping you achieve your trade show and event goals.
