Trade show checklist for success.

Love ’em or hate ’em, Trade Shows are part of the marketing landscape. They can be hugely effective or a waste of time. It really depends on a range of factors – some of which are outside your control. But, a bit of planning and following a design process will help make the event as productive as possible. Here’s a checklist for successful booth graphics.

Plan

• Allow time for feedback and iteration – developing a strong concept is key.
• Confirm scheduled print production times and delivery dates.
• Check production specs and confirm files are to those specs.

Imagery

• Consider action shots that tell a story.
• Unusual imagery promotes inquisitiveness.
• Simple images help people understand more quickly.
• Images should always be appropriate to the message.
• Use your own unique imagery where possible.

Wording

• The headline should be as short as possible.
• Generally use a minimum number of words.
• If necessary consider dot points to add structure.
• Use language that will be clearly understood by the audience.
• Avoid industry jargon as where possible.

Logos

• Keep them relatively large.
• Protect the white space to avoid crowding.
• Ensure the appropriate contrast logo version is being used.
• Use high resolution logos – vector format is best.
• Check to ensure correct proportion scaling has been applied.