Traditionally, exhibition stands were large, solid structures that you needed transport to and from the exhibition on the back of a small (or not so small) truck. These days, the focus is on lightweight, simple and inexpensive stands that are easily adaptable.
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.
