Exhibit Design Tips
It can be complicated to design with oversize graphics. Breaking down the process and preparing for obstacles make it manageable. Let’s go through the steps that help ensure success in such projects, plus prevent needless worry about your booth.
Planning is Crucial
Planning should start several months ahead of time, at minimum. Even when companies have registered for a conference a year in advance, they are typically late in planning the creation of signage and booth materials. Designers have to be ready with a detailed plan for delivery: Schedule deadlines for concepts, proofs, final files to vendor, and the final shipped date to the event location.
Nail Down Specifications
- Ask your booth vendor for elevation plans and a graphic detail with all measurements and specs of panels and signage. They should provide their preferred file resolution and size, plus permitted formats.
- Confirm the booth location and how it will be approached by attendees.
- Find the optimal height for viewing graphics and text.
- Be aware of items such as monitors, desks, and mounted lights that affect the visibility of graphics.
Images
Images are probably the biggest hurdle designers face, as clients often have poor-quality images that are not appropriate for oversize graphics. Make sure all the images you’ll be using are large enough to be to qualify for the required size specifications.
- Faces or product shots need to be on-target with correct resolution to size, whereas images of landscapes or backgrounds are more forgiving.
- Text should ideally be 100% (actual size).
- Providing all files at actual size is a great idea; most vendors ask for 100 dpi as the minimum resolution for actual-size files.
Which App is Best?
Photoshop is essential for sizing and creating photographic images. To create the artwork/layout files, use InDesign or Illustrator. Each have their own advantages and disadvantages.
