How to Effectively Design How to Effectively Design Your Trade Show GraphicsYour Trade Show Graphics

Kristin HovdeKristin Hovde

Smash Hit DisplaysSmash Hit Displays

Benefits of Trade ShowsBenefits of Trade Shows

Get exposure for your companyGet exposure for your company Meet potential customers or professionals Meet potential customers or professionals

to network withto network with Reach your target audience all under one Reach your target audience all under one

roofroof Increase salesIncrease sales Promote new productsPromote new products

When Designing Your Trade Show When Designing Your Trade Show Graphics…Graphics…

Keep it simpleKeep it simple Use bold colorsUse bold colors Think of billboards you see on the highwayThink of billboards you see on the highway Text should be large and clearText should be large and clear

Keep it SimpleKeep it Simple

Your graphics should say “what you do” Your graphics should say “what you do” No more than 2 short sentences should be No more than 2 short sentences should be

used. Any more and you will overwhelm used. Any more and you will overwhelm the attendees with too much info. the attendees with too much info.

Only use a couple large photos of the Only use a couple large photos of the products you are promoting. products you are promoting.

Insert Bold ColorsInsert Bold Colors

Bright colors will get more attention than Bright colors will get more attention than neutral colors. neutral colors.

Good color choices: red, yellow, orange, Good color choices: red, yellow, orange, and greenand green

Colors you should avoid: brown, tan, Colors you should avoid: brown, tan, beige, or white beige, or white

Colors used should tie in withColors used should tie in with the colors the colors used for your logoused for your logo

Think of BillboardsThink of Billboards

They are very simple, yet give all of the They are very simple, yet give all of the information needed – such as contact info, information needed – such as contact info, a short sentence stating what they do, and a short sentence stating what they do, and one or two large photos. one or two large photos.

Your trade show graphics should be Your trade show graphics should be designed in the same fashiondesigned in the same fashion

Use Large TextUse Large Text

Your text should be large enough to be Your text should be large enough to be seen from 2 trade show booths awayseen from 2 trade show booths away

Choose font wisely – a popular choice is Choose font wisely – a popular choice is Ariel because it is simple and easy-to-readAriel because it is simple and easy-to-read

What to avoidWhat to avoid

Trying to cram too much information into Trying to cram too much information into the graphicsthe graphics

Getting font-happy and using more than Getting font-happy and using more than one one

Using a fancy fontUsing a fancy font Thinking of your brochure when designing Thinking of your brochure when designing

the trade show graphicsthe trade show graphics

Too much infoToo much info

Some exhibitors try to fit paragraphs of Some exhibitors try to fit paragraphs of text into their graphicstext into their graphics

No attendee is going to want to stop and No attendee is going to want to stop and read itread it

They’ll end up moving on to a trade show They’ll end up moving on to a trade show exhibit that doesn’t require so much time exhibit that doesn’t require so much time to figure out what they do. to figure out what they do.

Too many fontsToo many fonts

Just because you found a bunch of cool Just because you found a bunch of cool fonts, doesn’t mean they are a good match fonts, doesn’t mean they are a good match for trade show graphicsfor trade show graphics

Choose a font and stick with itChoose a font and stick with it Using too many different fonts will make Using too many different fonts will make

your exhibit display look sloppyyour exhibit display look sloppy

No Fancy FontsNo Fancy Fonts

Using a fancy, swirly font may look good Using a fancy, swirly font may look good on paper, but would be difficult to read on on paper, but would be difficult to read on trade show graphics. trade show graphics.

Stick to the simple fonts Stick to the simple fonts

Don’t think of your brochureDon’t think of your brochure

Brochures generally have tons of Brochures generally have tons of information and picturesinformation and pictures

Your graphics should be the summarized Your graphics should be the summarized versionversion

Get straight to the point and use only one Get straight to the point and use only one or two sentencesor two sentences

You may want to use your mission You may want to use your mission statement or one sentence stating the statement or one sentence stating the benefits of your productsbenefits of your products

For more infoFor more info

Smash Hit Displays can help! Our Smash Hit Displays can help! Our graphic designers are specially trained to graphic designers are specially trained to

create professional, eye-catching create professional, eye-catching graphics. graphics.

http://www.smashhitdisplays.comhttp://www.smashhitdisplays.com