10 Booth Design Tips to Stop Them in Their Tracks

Any display expert will tell you that successful design practices are rooted in psychology. There are certain tricks and best practices you can incorporate into your next trade show booth design to draw in more visitors and generate more leads. At Iconic Displays, we offer some of the most exciting new design trends on the market. When preparing for your next trade show, be sure to keep the following 10 tips in mind.

1. Understand Your Brand / Spell it out – Having a consistent brand message and look and feel throughout all of your promotional materials will help convey a clear, memorable message to your visitors. Choose a font that is legible and bold, yet creatively reflects your brand. Using large header text will let your message be seen from across the trade show floor. However, be careful not to clutter your banners with too much text. Keep it bold and simple, and choose your marketing-driven display content wisely.

2. Color and Contrast – Contrasting colors are the simplest way to direct attention to your trade show booth. Bright colors that work within your company’s design theme create an upbeat feel, and don’t forget to make sure your staff is dressed to match! Many display rentals come with customizable fabric accents to go with your printed banners. Of course, be sure that your display isn’t so bright that it is difficult to read or look at. Go with mostly bright and inviting tones, with the occasional vivid accent.

3. High Quality Graphics – Vivid, detailed graphics have become a mandatory element for many trade show exhibitors, especially B2C companies. However, graphics are only as good as their design, resolution, and printing. Don’t make the mistake of printing graphics just before your event date, only to find that they are low resolution or poorly formatted. Make your images jump off your display and grab the attention of show attendees by consulting a graphics expert from Iconic Displays.

4. Mixed Media and Materials – The days of bland pop up banners and printed displays are long gone. Trade show booths these days incorporate all kinds of different mediums to make brands stand out from the rest. Graphics can be printed on fabric or styrene, displayed on video LCD monitors, projections, or even touch screens. Truss display systems add a professional, industrial edge to large display booth as well. Experimenting with textiles and materials can be a fun way to give your booth a truly unique feel.

5. Light It Up – Light up display walls are a great way to make your graphics stand out without breaking the bank. They will give your trade show booth a high tech feel without the stress of expensive video monitors. Backlit displays are usually fabric illuminated from the inside, making your images and logos glow on the show floor. Show Attendees will be drawn to your booth like moths to a flame.

6. Create a Focal Point – Establishing a focal point to your display is a subtle, yet effective way to design your trade show booth. Much like retail displays, show displays are more visually appealing if there is a main focal point to the space. Having a large center image, product display, demo area, or staff member podium will help draw visitors to a specific destination. Incorporating at least one focal point will give your booth a sense of purpose, and will prevent people from wandering through aimlessly without learning about your company.

7. Comfort is Key – If you’re an exhibitor, you’ve probably been in the exhausted, worn out shoes of an attendee once or twice. Making your booth an oasis of comfort is a great way to get visitors into your space and communicating with your staff. Seating space is a great way to do this, but you can also achieve this in a more subtle way. Designing your trade show booth to resemble the real world– for example a café, retail store, or theater– is a great way to make your visitors feel at home in your space.

8. Make it Interactive – Even if your booth staff are the most interesting people in the world, trade show attendees get tired of hearing the same informative sales pitches over and over. Give them something different: something they can get their hands on! Making your trade show booth interactive in some way is a great way to interact with visitors who otherwise might keep walking by. Touch screen displays, product demonstrations, QR codes to scan, contests and giveaways are all great ways to get booth visitors to interact with your brand.

9. Take it Up a Notch – The trade show floor can get a little one-dimensional, so a great way to stand out is to think vertical and add another level. There are plenty of affordable ways to get your logo banners up above your competitors’ at your next event. Double deck truss displays are great for creating an air of exclusivity for booth visitors. The upper level can be used as a conference room to close important deals or connect with potential clients in a one-on-one environment. If a two-story truss system isn’t in your budget, consider a hanging display to help complete your booth design and help raise your brand awareness to a new height.

10. Make it Accessible – It’s hugely important to design a trade show booth that allows attendees to flow freely through your booth. Knowing your show floor placement ahead of time can help you plan for what kind of layout your booth should include. If your booth is accessible from more than two sides, its important that your display be readable to all of your potential visitors. Truss systems are great for both center and corner booths, and many include banner display areas on multiple sides. If trade show attendees don’t feel that they can easily enter and exit your booth, they are less likely to interact with you.

Don’t get stuck with a boring booth design at your next trade show. Having an interesting, modern display will help you generate more leads than ever and make a lasting impression on potential clients. No matter what your budget is, the design experts at Iconic Displays can work with you to create something truly unique. Give us a call today to get started.