As with any design of a space, the use of space must be practical. Think carefully about where people will stand, both your staff manning the stand, and the customers visiting the stand. Good exhibition stands make the most of the space and the designer will create a space that is both useful and attractive to passers by.

If your budget allows, a custom designed exhibition stand allows greater flexibility for portable displays and different signage options such as pull up banners, pop up displays, and product displays.

If you have are using the basic ‘shell’ exhibition stands provided by the organiser, you can still involve a designer and ‘upgrade’ to help make maximum impact, and provide comfortable areas for staff to chat with prospective clients.  Most shell scheme exhibition stands have walls on three sides, with a wide open space in the centre.

One of the first objects to consider when designing your exhibition display is the amount of space allocated to your company at the trade show. Ensure you receive exact measurements and information about the placement of the exhibition stand within the exhibition centre from the trade show organisers.

If you have a corner stand, it could be a better option for you to remove the wall to the end, and create a more open spaced exhibition stand design. Once you have the information about the show stand arrangements, you can design an exhibition stand that serves your purpose.

You need to decide what the purpose of your stand at the trade show or exhibition will be. If it is just to provide information to prospective clients, you may want to focus on the banners, signage and posters.

Do you need to hire display stands to show your products to the best effect? Will you need extra lights or special light displays, such as a spotlight on your best product? Do you want rotating display stands or static displays?

If you plan to have brochures or give-aways for your prospective customers, you will need to consider where you will display and store these items within the exhibition stand. You may wish to hire a professional looking counter or display case for your exhibition stand.

If you plan to attract people to your stand through demonstrations of the product, you will need to create an open space around where you will show how your product works, for customers to watch the demonstrations.

Static displays can be good, but you may want to consider other options for a professional exhibition stand design. You can hire pop up displays, for example that will attract more attention than a static display. When designing the exhibition stand, allow room for the banners, displays, and for staff and customers.

Trade shows and exhibitions provide unique selling and marketing opportunities that can require specialised design in the stand. If you want to make the most of your allocated space, so that the area attracts attention, provides space for staff and customers to chat, and provides information in a variety of methods to passers by, you will definitely need to carefully consider how to design your exhibition stand.

Good Design

Easy Assembly
If you plan to travel with your exhibition stand and want to be able to save on install and pack down fees at different venues, you will need to take into account the versatility and easy assembly of your chosen stand package. A well designed stand should be easy and quick to install, saving you on-site labour costs.

Light Weight
Perhaps not the most obvious of considerations but you will save money on transportation if your stand is light weight. Also, install will be made easier if the actual components are lighter to move around. You could save on forklift costs if your stand can be erected by manpower alone.

Pack Down, Storage and Transportation
A good exhibition company will take care of all these things for you., but if you do need to pay for storage and/or transportation you want the stand to take up as small a space as possible to save on costs. Packaging should be sturdy and reusable too so that when you re-assemble your stand at different venues, it should look like new each time. Most exhibition companies will include upkeep and touch up paint in their costs.

Accessories
Get as many accessories as you think you may need as part of the initial package. For instance; lights, carpet or floor tiles, lockable counters and storage, even graphics. Furniture is generally an extra but you can still ask your exhibition company to add chairs, tables, plants, a bar setting, plasma screens etc. to your quote so that when you turn up at the show, you have everything you’ll need already there.

Graphics
Your exhibition stand package will probably come with graphic panels included. Don’t waste this opportunity. Get your own graphic designer or your exhibition company to come up with something that will best advertise your company. Many people use these panels as just ‘background’ images but this is all advertising space which you have already paid for so should be using it to its best potential.

Price
Probably your most important consideration when choosing an exhibition stand package. Obviously you will have some kind of budget to stick to so shop around. If you see a particular stand you like but out of your price range call the exhibition company and ask if they might be able to save any costs. They will be able to take out a couple of graphics that you may not need which will reduce the price, or they may be able to offer you a cheaper flooring option. Always give the exhibition company your budget and ask them to offer you something suitable.

A good exhibition company should always be able to adapt their product to your needs. Tell them what it is you are trying to achieve and ask advice on any issues you are unsure about. They are there to help you.

Before you go out spending a lot of money on materials, do your research. If you do an online search for ‘Trade Show stand designs’, you will find thousands of photos and articles of various stands from all sorts of industries. Spend your time going through these and take note of those that really catch your eye. What is it in particular that draws your attention?

Once you have discovered the look that you like, it’s time to start drawing up plans for your own stand. You don’t need to be an artist, or an architect, just a simple sketch is all you need so that when you start buying parts and getting to work you have an idea of what you want to achieve. However, working with an expert stand designer can be helpful and a cost effective way to make sure your design is right for your needs.

Don’t forget that whatever type of stand you build, it will need to be easily portable and sturdy enough to handle a lot of foot traffic and some bumps and collisions. Something else to take into consideration is that after the trade show is finished, if you are planning on keeping the stand until the next show, you will have to store it somewhere. You probably don’t want a large stand taking up your entire storeroom and preventing you from using it for other purposes.

Another consideration to keep in mind is that this stand will need to be transported, assembled and disassembled – probably many times. You don’t want the construction of the stand to be too difficult for you or your workers when they get to the trade show location. We’ve all spent many an hour trying to put together flat-pack furniture which claims ‘Easy-to-Assemble’ – there’s nothing worse. Some exhibition companies will help you with the assembly and disassembly of your stand, so it can be worth considering this option.

It is a great idea to check out the competition whenever you attend a trade show. Look at how they have designed/built their stands and think about whether there is anything you could adapt for use with your own. Trends change over time and you don’t want to be exhibiting with an outdated, tired looking display. This is another reason why hiring an expert in the field can help you make your business stand out. The experts in the industry know the latest trends.

Finally, when building your Trade Show stand you need to remember that it will be representing you, your business and your product at every Trade Show that you attend. Ensure that your stand is easily identifiable as belonging to you, by adorning it with your business logo and colours. Also, don’t be afraid to make alterations if, after attending a Trade Show or two, you identify changes you could make to your stand for convenience or ease of use, and always make sure that the stand is well-maintained.

Space for Staff
How many staff members will you have manning the stand at any point in time? Each staff member needs plenty of room to sit or to stand to talk to customers comfortably. Customers also need space to talk to your staff members. If space is at a premium, you may want to have fewer staff members manning the stand, even if that means customers have to wait a bit longer for service. A good rule of thumb is to allow at least 80cm2 for each staff member.

Space for Storage
Plan where you will store extra brochures, business cards, order forms, or giveaways. You won’t be able to have all of these items on display (most exhibitors hand out thousands of business cards in a single day at the trade show. Check whether you can store any items anywhere else with the exhibition organizers. An option may be to store a minimum amount of items in the actual stand and have a staff member go to the car or van to restock as needed throughout the exhibition.

Space for Signage
While signs may not take up much space, especially if you hang the signs on the walls of the exhibition stand, you still need to consider the space for signs. There is little point in hanging signs and then covering up the signs with things in front of the signs, so no-one can actually read the signs at the back of the stand. If you use banners or stands for your signage, you need to allocate that space accordingly in your exhibition design.

Space for Surroundings
Creating a type of ambiance in your exhibition stand is important. Sometimes, you may just want space to avoid the stand feeling cluttered and uninviting to customers. It is better to have some ‘empty’ space rather than to give the impression of clutter and mess.

Space for Products
Decide which products you will be promoting at your exhibition stand. If you want to highlight a particular product, you will need space for the product, space around the product so that customers can see the product clearly, and space for the lighting which will highlight the product in your exhibition stand.

Space will always be at a premium when you create your exhibition stand. You need to decide how best to use the space you have and how to avoid making your stand feel cluttered, messy, and unusable for the staff and customers.

Talk with your exhibition designer about the best ways to use the limited space you have in your exhibition stand. You should map out the stand and play with moving elements of the stand around on the map before you commission your signs, furniture, and other exhibition stand products.

Remember the adage that sometimes less is more when you are designing your exhibition stand. Remove the clutter and make every centimeter of your allotted space for your exhibition stand count.

This is why it is very important for your exhibition stand to ‘stand out’ from the rest. No matter how brilliant your product is, if no one sees it, your attendance will have been a waste of time and money.

Exhibition attendees are bombarded from every direction with colours, sounds, moving models, life-size replicas and many more design elements. So, whilst securing the best possible space at the exhibition is one hurdle, the next is designing an eye-catching stand that will attract customers and make your business stand out from the crowd.

The design of your stand is really only limited by your imagination (and finances of course). If you sell bathroom fittings, why not make your stand a mock-up of an elegant bathroom, complete with a mirror, tiles, bath, shower … you name it.

Another option is to display your product in a completely unexpected scenario. Think outside the square! Focus in on something unique about your product…..for example, showing a piece of gym equipment within a mock-up of a passenger car, is not only unexpected but also illustrates that your product is so compact and portable that you can take it anywhere.

Once you have decided on the general theme for your exhibition stand, you will need to employ a specially trained exhibition stand designer. But in order to give your designer the best possible brief, you can experiment with your own ideas and floor plan. Find an area large enough to fit your allotted exhibition space, and mark it with tape or chalk. From here, you can physically move items around and test how easily staff will be able to manoeuvre around the space. It’s no good having a wonderfully eye-catching display that prevents workers from interacting with customers, or showing functionality of your product.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the saying ‘less is more’ rings true for a reason. Before a customer even walks past your particular exhibition stand, they have already been exposed to many other stands and people. By having a clutter-free, relaxing booth you can help the customer avoid being overwhelmed with a multitude of messages.

Whilst your business might sell numerous products, or different versions of a product, you will need to come up with a good compromise between showing customers everything you have on offer, and keeping your limited space clean, uncluttered and simple. It might be a good idea to display only a few options or versions of your products with the rest available upon request. Remember, exhibitors often do not do much actual ‘selling’ at the exhibition; rather they introduce the products to the market and make connections with customers. Following up on any leads generated at the show is crucial, you must ensure that when customers request a particular product you are able to procure it quickly. If it is going to take too long the customer may forget or go elsewhere.

Not only is the appearance of your exhibition stand important, you must consider practicalities too. Keep in mind you will be in for a long day (or days) and a masterpiece of an exhibition stand that requires a scientific degree and hours of assembly, is not the best way for you or your staff to begin the long, gruelling – but potentially rewarding – process of exhibiting your business and products to the world.

Here are some things you can do:

‘Upgrade’. You will come across this term a lot in the exhibition world. An ‘upgrade stand’ is somewhere between the standard shell stand and a custom designed stand. Basically, it is customizing your shell by re-arranging your floor plan, adding graphic panels, curved panels, plasmas, showcases, lighting, storage, furniture etc. to create a completely unique look.

Use colour. Many trade shows offer standard ‘shell’ booths which are all the same. Get some funky graphics designed or at least different coloured wall panels which will both fit in with your corporate identity and also help you to stand out.

Maximise signage opportunities. I’m not suggesting you fill every space with signage and graphics but make the best use of the space you have available. A custom fascia won’t break the bank and while everyone around you may have the standard black text on white background, a coloured fascia with logo can look really professional. Also, use the vertical space again. You could erect overhead banners if allowed. Think outside the square a little; look at  back-lit or 3D alternatives.

Use AV options. If you have several products to show, but only a small space you could use a plasma screen with photos, details or even a video demo. This is great as you can incorporate sound as well as sight to lure your prospective customers in. Another option is computer screens with interactive displays so people can look through your products at their own pace.

Hire some exhibition furniture. Don’t stick with the standard boring bar stool and table, try something different. Coloured ottomans and coffee tables, leather chairs or lounges, egg chairs, beanbags or custom made furniture will all turn your ‘meeting area’ into a feature area.

Accessorise. Instead of having your brochures in a pile on the desk, hire a magazine rack. Have some plants scattered around to make the place look inviting. Hire a competition barrel in which to collect business cards.

By having a stand that is not a solid structure, the exhibitor is empowered to alter their display as needed, and is not confined to one particular setup. Lights, fabrics and colour schemes create the illusion of a defined space, rather than using solid walls. The absence of a heavy, physical structure also means you can pack the stand into a much smaller space, like a car, and anyone can lift and carry parts of the exhibition stand.

The easiest, cheapest and most versatile way of defining your exhibition stand is with the use of material. Fabrics can be obtained in any colour under the sun, they can also be painted or dyed as required and then draped to imitate walls, placed on the floor to define space, or laid over tables to create a ‘stage’ or display area. Another advantage of using fabric is that you can quite cheaply have your company logo printed onto it. The best thing is when you are finished; you can fold or roll the material for easy storage.

Lights are also an excellent addition to your exhibition stand. You can obtain some quite inexpensive lights from discount stores, or you could go to a high-end electrical store to purchase a state-of-the-art light display. The standard fluorescent lighting in most exhibition venues is not very flattering to you or your products.

You can use lighting to define your exhibition space, or even to differentiate portions of your exhibition stand area. It can also draw a consumer’s attention to a particular component of your display by highlighting a certain object or area.

In conjunction with lighting, colour is a superb tool to create a ‘mood’ for your space. Interior designers have known this for years; there have been many studies on the effect of colour on people’s temperament, and even buying decisions. Some cultures place special significance on certain colours, so it is wise to research this if exhibiting in other countries. It is also important that you don’t go all out decorating with a ‘trendy’ or ‘fashionable’ colour which will be out of style within a short period of time. Try to stick with colours that will last you for a while, as you don’t want to be replacing everything each time you go to an exhibition.

Another of the latest trends in exhibition stands is to go ‘green’. Today, more than ever, we are concerned with our impact on the earth so many exhibitors are doing whatever they can (within reason) to minimize their carbon footprint.

The use of recycled and/or recyclable materials is a big part of going green. For example, tables that are going to be covered up with fabrics don’t need to look fancy – a second-hand one from a garage sale will do a great job. You can replace bulbs in lights with the new environmentally friendly, compact, fluorescent long-life bulbs.

Use of colour, fabric, and lighting are the new ways people are designing exhibition stands.

It can take a lot of work to create the right image of your product, but speaking to an expert in the exhibition design industry can help you to come up with a theme for your stand and marketing products.

An exhibition stand typically consists of a presentation podium, back ground exhibit and usually some furniture. Many exhibition stands often have accessories like lighting and self-serve brochure holders built on to them. You can furnish your exhibition stand with audio-visual features such as interactive touch screens, high impact graphics, and plasma screens showing visual scenes that will peak visitor curiosity.

The pop-up exhibition stand is the cost efficient, lightest weight and is the easiest to assemble making them the most popular of all types. There are a lot portable display stands available, including banners and stands, table top display, pop up display, and pull-up banners.

There are different and large ranges of things to consider for the design of a trade show exhibition stand. The exhibition stand should instantly deliver and update a targeted message to the viewer. The graphics, banners and the text should be straight forward and attention grabbing. The displays should highlight the main benefits a customer would enjoy by purchasing your product. Everything should be accented with smart lightning and layout. Match the colour scheme to the marketing theme you have selected.

The exhibition designers must understand the maintenance and importance of exhibition design. The designer must remember that art work is only a tool of portraying products but not for the purpose of exhibition. Exhibition design is coupled with many factors such as outreach planes, exhibits, colour, charts, layout, and lighting. The design of a good exhibition is always the integration of all these factors.

The exhibition must have a specific theme to leave a long lasting impression on the viewers and to give desired message. The exhibition booth should be designed from viewer’s perspective, target viewers taste; response should be researched before selecting the booth design. A professional and certified booth designer can guide to plan an attracting booth design.

The products and finishes of the exhibition booth should be carefully accomplished as it reflects the brand value and business identity of the exhibiting company. The booth design can be made more attractive by incorporating audiovisual features such as interactive touch screens, attractive lighting, high impact graphics and plasma screen in the exhibition booth design. Creative discipline in the interior design, architecture and product development of the exhibition booth is a must check.

By taking time to plan, exhibition design can be made appealing and attractive. You can dramatically improve the business by marketing effectively at a trade show using a themed, well designed exhibition stand and complete marketing strategy.

Whether you operate a small, medium or large business, having the right exhibition furniture will help create the look you are going for, and make your clients feel at ease with you and your business. One idea to consider is the convenience of exhibition stand package rental, which, with the help of an exhibition hire expert, you can customize to suit your trade show needs, as well as your budget.

When you decide to rent your exhibition stand package, an exhibition hire expert will help you pick the right package for your business. Graphic designers will help you design the look of your package, taking your print files and turning them into high quality graphics for your display. When it is time for the trade show, your exhibition stand package will be delivered and set up by the experts, giving you the time you need to take care of other important details.

Accessorize!
Once you have decided on the look you want your exhibition stand package to have, you will need to ‘decorate’ it. Exhibition furniture can help you create a comfortable, home-like feeling for your clients. You may want to go for a café style setting, or offer your clients the homey comfort of a living room-like setting with an ottoman and coffee table. If people have been walking around the trade show for many hours, yours could be the display they want to sit down at for a while.

There are a number of exhibition hire furnishings and accessories you may want to consider so your trade show display will make potential customers take notice:

• Tables and seating- offers a comfortable place for you to meet with clients.

• Counters – display your products and literature, accessorize with counter-top displays.

• Cabinets – great for administrative items and paperwork.

• Lighting – not only necessary for optimal viewing of your trade show display, lighting helps create ambience. With the proper lighting, you can showcase individual items or products.

• Audio/visual displays – a must-have for any business that wants to retain that competitive edge. Technology gets noticed, especially by the younger generation who expect interactive displays.

• Signage – colourful signage is attractive to the eye, and good signage will draw customers to your trade show display!

• Electrical outlets – a must-have for lighting, audio/visual displays, and any other item you have that requires electricity.

• Flooring – choose from a variety of colors of carpet tile, or opt for a raised floor.

Don’t Forget The Small Stuff!
Just because you have created an amazing exhibition stand, it doesn’t mean you’re finished quite yet. Now you need to decorate, and an exhibition hire expert can help you choose from a number of options. If your display includes clothing items, you may want to consider adding a clothes rack, with a variety of models that you can choose from.

Often at trade shows, companies offer draws and other contests. If you plan to do this, a great accessory to have is a competition barrel. Brochure racks are a necessity if you offer literature, and a spec stand will draw your clients’ eyes to a particular product or item. Having a small bar fridge is convenient, and, of course, you must have a waste basket.

Operating a display at a trade show can be hectic and time-consuming, but when you choose to take advantage of exhibition package rental, you will have the peace of mind of knowing that all of your trade show display and furniture needs will be taken care of, from delivery to set-up to tear-down.

One of the first things to consider is the exhibitor rules and regulations to ensure your design and stand size are appropriate. Then you will want to have a planning session, where you will establish your objectives, set a budget, develop your sales message, and create a marketing plan.

Other much-needed information to confirm prior to the trade show includes available storage, shipping options, freight deliveries, and telecommunications; the facility layout, your booth location, available transportation and parking, unloading and reloading zones, area hotels and restaurants as well as the location of an office supply store in case an unexpected situation arises.

Your trade show stand should jump out, which will entice people to take a closer look. Be sure to keep your target audience in mind as well as the marketing message you are hoping to bring across during the design process. The best way to do this is by appealing to the senses using proper lighting, color combinations, motion techniques, sound, and smell, which is sure to make your exhibit irresistible.

• Proper lighting will help bring focus to certain products especially if using the spotlight effect.

• Always choose colors that help bring your message across and compliment products without being overly loud or too dull.

• Employing a motion technique may be useful for product demonstrations or other moving applications.

• Keep sounds low enough so they do not disturb neighboring exhibitors but loud enough for your visitors to thoroughly enjoy. Sound elements may include nature sounds, soothing music, and in some cases live entertainment.

• Smell is a strong attractant used to draw in visitors but should not over power your neighbors. Many exhibitors use popcorn however, freshly baked cookies, cinnamon rolls, and brownies have irresistible aromas as well.

Another consideration when trying to design your trade show stand is deciding which type of exhibit display you want to use. There are several styles to choose from which include tabletop, pull-up, pop-up, and panel displays. Tabletop displays are inexpensive, and lightweight. These are typically made of three panels and use velcro graphics. Pull-up displays function similar to a reversed window shade, offer versatility and are lightweight.

Pop-up displays are backed with vinyl, fabric or plastic panels that create angled views and are constructed of lightweight foldable frames. Panel displays are versatile giving numerous options as standalone or wall mounted displays, which are typically rectangular in shape and covered with fabric.

There are numerous professionals within the industry who will assist you in bringing your design to life. The key is to shop around and speak with several companies of interest to find the right fit for you and your vision. If this is your first time out, you may also consider renting a display to defray costs and get a feel for what is available, which will better prepare you for the next trade show.