Best in Class Tradeshow Exhibits and Consulting: Call 800-654-6946 for Prompt Service

Exhibit Design Search / Trade Show and Event Tips / Design, Lighting, and Graphics Tips /

Trade Show Graphics that Sparkle and Shine

Stunning Trade Show Graphics

  • Visibility and distinctiveness are the most important goals
  • Don’t skimp on graphic design or your booth graphics
  • The color scheme you select for your trade show booth is critical
  • Work with a graphic designer who is familiar with trade shows and events 
     

Visibility and distinctiveness are the most important goals when designing graphics for your booth. Your graphics should be easy for customers to see when standing in the aisle or from a distance. Sandy Flom, CEO of Extraordinary Show Productions, recently told The Mississippi Business Journal that “Powerful graphics are easily seen from a distance. Large photographs of people using or benefiting from your product or service send the strongest message.”

Make Your Graphics Distinctive

You want your graphics to be distinctive. Try to state your message in ten words or less. Use simple, everyday terms, and try to convey how your company’s products or services can help prospective customers. Try to avoid too much detail. One of the biggest mistakes trade show novices make is cluttering their exhibit with too much text. Simplicity is the key. Attendees are bombarded with massive amounts of information at trade shows. They are unlikely to take the time to read a jargon heavy message or want to be bogged down with too many specifications. Save that information for your literature. That way the customer can examine it at their leisure and refer to it as needed.

Don’t Skimp on Graphic Design

If you remember anything, remember this . . . Don’t skimp on graphic design and your booth graphics. Stunning graphics will grab people’s attention. A rich, colorful image will make people stop and take notice. There are few limitations anymore on either graphic sizes or graphic substrates. At any trade show, you will see graphics printed on solid surfaces such as panels and laminates and on large format tension fabric displays. Some are meant to be portable; others must ship in crates. Be sure to coordinate your display graphics with your literature for a cohesive presentation.

The color scheme you select for your trade show booth is critical. Color affects our perceptions of a space, so when planning your booth, choose your colors carefully. The graphic designer can help determine the most appropriate color scheme for your booth based on your overall corporate colors, your marketing goals, and your color preferences. Be sure to work with a graphic designer who is familiar with trade shows and events. Translating traditional advertising from magazines and brochures into 3D structures requires experience and expertise. In addition to printing graphics on a larger scale, the printing mediums are often very different.

Be sure to tell your graphic designer if the graphics are intended for just one show or if you plan to use them for multiple shows or for several years. This may influence the marketing message and will definitely influence how the graphics are printed and on what substrate. Regardless of the substrate, you will want to treat your graphics carefully. Nothing is more frustrating that having beautiful graphics at your first show and then discovering at your next show that the graphics have been damaging because of careless packing. Graphics are expensive and should be treated with kid gloves.

Contact Us

For more information about trade show or event marketing, give us a call or Contact Us. We welcome the opportunity to assist you with your next show.

Article Author:

Mel White, CEI

Add designs and photos to your personal gallery simply by clicking on the +My Gallery links

Then email your "My Gallery" to colleagues, friends, or your favorite exhibit designer. There's no better way to begin designing a display that reflects your exhibit marketing goals.

Note: My Gallery uses a temporary browser cookie to store your gallery. We recommend that you send your gallery to your email address if you need to retain it for longer than 30 days.

  • Suggested lead times may vary depending on current orders. Please check with Customer Service.
  • Production lead times are based on business days and DO NOT include any shipping days.
  • Production-ready artwork (when applicable) must accompany the order confirmation. Delays in uploading artwork may lead to expedited charges or shipping changes.
  • No order will be released to Production without a signed order confirmation.
  • Shipping is based on the availability of materials and graphics. Additional charges may apply if materials or graphics must be expedited.
  • Standard lead times do not apply to orders of multiple quantities.
Exhibit Weight varies depending on the packaging and the shipping method. Variables include but are not limited to:
  • Dimensional Weight vs. Actual Weight: Dimensional weight is defined as crate or case size. On most air shipments, the dimensional weight exceeds the actual weight
  • Portable Cases vs. Wood Crates or Molded Tubs (where applicable): Exhibit designs that require one wood crate would require multiple portable cases. Selecting one vs. the other affects the total weight (dimensional or actual).
  • Freight Carrier: LTL carriers (Less than Truckload) quote freight based on space used. UPS, FedEx, and air freight carriers quote freight based on either the dimensional or the actual weight of the shipment.
  • Freight Service Level (number of days): Service levels range from Same Day Delivery to Two Week Delivery.
For more information about exhibit weights and freight options, please contact your local exhibit representative.
Electrical, Cord, and Wire Management varies depending on the display and each exhibitor's requirements. When ordering your trade show display, consider the following electrical/wire management issues and discuss your options with an exhibit professional:
  • Inline vs. Island Displays
  • Lead Retrieval Devices
  • Computer and Monitor Cables
  • Demo Equipment
  • Overhead Lighting
  • Grommets and Grommet Placement in Counters
  • Overhead vs. Floor Power Supply
  • Flooring and Electrical Wiring
  • Options for Hiding Cords and Cables
  • Flat vs. Round Electrical Cords
  • Multi-Plug Outlets and Extension Cords
By reviewing your wiring options BEFORE you order your display, you'll save TIME and MONEY and ensure your exhibit exceeds your expectations and your installation is trouble-free.