Read on for our no-jargon industry-insider guide.
Exhibition design is an interesting and crucial part of the event industry. Think of any previous event that you have been to. Think about the effort that went into building and designing that event. Now think of all of the vendors and what they were doing. Exhibition design is everywhere and we’re going to break down for you just what exactly it is.
How can exhibition design help?
Exhibition design is the factor that brings your event or exhibition to life. A lot of planning and grunt work is required before an exhibition can take shape. Some of the groundwork included in such a process covers the following areas:
Discussions around budgetary requirements and the objectives of the exhibition.
Agreeing on strict timelines for project milestones and key dates.
Sketching out the concept design so that all parties are happy with the creative direction of the exhibition.
Resource planning.
Checking the availability of any required resources or venues before proceeding any further.
RFP - Request For Proposal to be completed and signed-off by all parties.
These are just some of the necessary steps to factor in when planning an exhibition in the early stages.
What do exhibition design companies do?
Exhibition design companies do lots of different things in relation to bringing an exhibition to life.
They can manage the onsite activities throughout the whole event or just for a specific period of time in the lead up to the exhibition deadline.
There’s also the creative concept design phase which is typically done at the beginning of a project. This can involve sketching, 3D design and animation or other creative pursuits in order to begin planning for how the exhibition will take shape.
Moreover, project planning is another crucial function of exhibition design companies. This involves scheduling timelines adhering to strict Gantt charts and managing the exhibition project to ensure it runs smoothly.
Why you should hire a firm to design your next exhibition.
Hiring an exhibition design firm to help with your next project is a smart way to ensure the exhibition is delivered on time and under budget. Being able to outsource the grunt work for large-scale projects is something that brings peace of mind and an assurance that your exhibition will be able to go ahead as scheduled without any delays. The main reasons why you should hire a firm include:
Exhibition design firms are generally specialized in a few different areas meaning they can help you wherever there is a bottleneck.
Often, by employing an exhibition design vendor, this will free up valuable time for your team to focus on other more important areas of the project.
You will still maintain full creative control over the project.
The turnaround time for the project may be quicker depending on circumstances.
Insider tips for exhibition design.
“An "organogram" [is] a hierarchical diagram setting out the roles and responsibilities of the staff designing an exhibition.” - Phillip Hughes. Use it wisely.
If you are looking to use a vendor for exhibition design support, try and give them as much time as possible to be able to deliver you the best possible results.
What story would you like to tell or what message are you wanting to convey to your audience? How can this create a meaningful connection? This is a great place to start in the design process.
Exhibit VS Exhibition.
There is a distinct difference between the two. To put it simply, an Exhibit may be something that is found inside of an Exhibition. Exhibit; to produce something publicly for inspection. Such as displaying a picture in a gallery
Exhibition; is an organized presentation and display of a selection of items.
Key terms in the exhibition design world.
RFP - Request for proposal
A/V - Audio and visual equipment
A1 - First class condition
AAR - Against all risks.
Baffle - A partition designed to control light, air, sound or traffic flow.
Build and burn - Booth designed and built for one-time use.
CAD - Computer-aided design.
CIF - Cost, Insurance & Freight.
Double-decker - A multiple story exhibit.
Fabrication - The construction of an exhibit.
Knockdown - An exhibit with separate components that must be assembled on-site.
How Exhibau can help with your exhibition design.
Exhibau is an award-winning exhibition design company. Our range of services covers art installations to full-scale project planning for your next big exhibition or event. As the exclusive design firm for top US brands like TED and Nike, Exhibau has mastered the craft of supporting projects in any way possible.
If you’re in need of concept development or the physical execution of your vision, talk to us.
We’re currently offering a free event checklist to help manage your next event.
Email the CEO of Exhibau patrick@exhibau.com to receive your FREE event checklist.
Happy Exhibition designing!