If you have ever attended a trade show, you know that many companies struggle with designing graphics that represent their company well. Even large, nationally recognized corporations make glaring mistakes in their graphic design that could have easily been prevented with a better understanding of the trade show environment. By collecting information from designers experienced in working with trade show graphics, we have compiled a number of tips that we believe are crucial to a successful graphic design.

1- Less is more in the world of trade show graphics. Many designers seem to think that they are designing a museum exhibit, because the entire display is filled with small text and bullet points. You only have three seconds to grab the attention of attendees and visitors at a trade show, and a large graphic full of tiny text is the last thing you want. We have found that large, boldly colored images that relate directly to the brand identity of your company will not only increase your visibility at the trade show, but increase the return on your investment. If you are designing graphics to promote a company that sells orange juice, you would do much better by using a large image of a fresh orange than by writing bullet points about the advantages of purchasing your brand of orange juice.

2- Do not sacrifice a professional image in order to market a smaller facet of your company. At a trade show, you are marketing your brand, not your products. Unless you offer a cutting edge product, visitors to your booth will not be impressed by what you sell. If you design simple but professional trade show graphics that focus on the feel of your company, you are much more likely to leave a lasting impact on attendees by raising the profile of your company brand. The biggest motivating factor that changes potential customers into loyal clients is the perception that your company is professional and legitimate.

3- Maintain a consistent scheme with all of your marketing material. Your large format trade show graphics should be closely tied in with the literature and giveaways you are handing out, as well as any pre-show mailers you have sent. Your trade show graphics should also work with your company website, letterhead, and business cards. In other words, your trade show marketing campaign needs to be a part of a much larger approach that is well planned and consistent. This will help you to appear legitimate and professional to your potential clients, which will help to earn business for your company. If your trade show graphics are well designed and make a big impact at your show, visitors will be disappointed if they are pointed to a poorly designed, outdated website.

Many companies that sell trade show displays offer graphic design, usually at a cost of roughly $100 per hour. There are a few companies that offer free trade show graphic design with the purchase of a trade show display or banner stand, which can be a great way to save money and time. Companies that sell exhibits usually staff designers that specialize in large format graphic design and printing, which means that they know exactly what types of design works well in a trade show environment. The expertise of a professional can drastically increase the return on your investment without adding too much upfront cost.

About the Author:

Andy Keeler is the owner of MODdisplays, a company that specializes in portable trade show displays and exhibit graphics. MODdisplays offers free graphic design and a free rendering service in an effort to simplify the process of purchasing trade show booths online. MODdisplays also offers Exhibit One displays, which are the most eco-friendly displays available on the market today.

MODdisplays, a leader in the portable trade show display industry, now offers free graphic design services with the purchase of any trade show display or banner stand. Designing trade show graphics can be a complex and challenging process, and usually ends up costing exhibitors more time and money than the display itself. The design professionals at MODdisplays can take the headache out of designing your own graphics and help to ensure that you look your best at the show.

The graphic designers at MODdisplays are experienced in the field of trade show marketing, which means they understand what works well for exhibitors. Trade shows are fast-paced environments, and experienced design professionals can help your company produce a display that is eye-catching and professional at the same time.

Most companies in the portable trade show display industry charge between $75 and $200 per hour, and an average 10 x 10 trade show booth could take as long as eight hours to design. Graphic design charges can add up very quickly, and many companies hide the total charge until after it is too late for the client to back out of the purchase. At MODdisplays, graphic design for your trade show booth is completely free, and there are no strings attached to this offer.

In addition to the obvious cost benefits for clients of MODdisplays, the addition of free graphic design simplifies the ordering process. “People who are in search of a trade show display really like what they see on our website, but they aren’t sure how the process of designing and producing custom graphics works. Now they can purchase our displays with confidence, and we send them their first graphic design rendition the next business day,” says MODdisplays President Andy Keeler. Combined with the custom exhibit rendering service offered by MODdisplays, the process of purchasing a trade show exhibit has become much easier.

When you purchase a trade show booth from MODdisplays, a member of the Graphics Department will immediately contact you to get a feel for what you are trying to accomplish at your trade show, as well as what types of graphic design appeal to your company’s unique style. From that conversation, a designer will take the time to produce an initial rendition. Through continued dialogue with our graphic design department, we will help you come to a graphic solution that works well for your company. Nothing will ever be printed without your signed approval, so there is no need to worry about paying for something that you are not entirely satisfied with.

In the portable trade show display industry, it is easy to get complacent and fall into routines with clients. MODdisplays is proud of the steps that have been taken to improve customer experience and continually improve the service that we provide to our clients.

Contact Information:

Andy Keeler

www.moddisplays.com

sales@moddisplays.com

1.877.663.3976 (Toll Free)

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Designing professional graphics that place the emphasis on your company’s image is by far the most effective way to make a big impact at your next conference. If your display does not grab the attention of passing visitors and attendees, you will lose sales… period.

Simplicity is key in graphic design. Our trade show booths are designed to fade into the background and allow your exhibit graphics to take center stage. Your company’s brand is far more important than our trade show display system. We hope that you use our trade show display only to the extent that it aids your design in setting a mood for visitors and attendees.