As exhibitions and trade shows continue to grow and become valuable ways for businesses to generate leads, we take a look at the considerations sign-makers and printers should have when taking on event and exhibition stand work The Do’s and Don’ts of Exhibition Stands At the recent FESPA 2026 trade show in Barcelona, one conversation that stood out to me was with an American journalist who was visiting the exhibition for the first time. In our conversation, he highlighted the sheer scale and creativity of some of the stands at the show, something he felt was more glamorous and eye-catching than similar exhibitions in the US. While it is understandable that many hardware manufacturers and material suppliers are going to want to showcase the capabilities of their products as best they can, I would argue that businesses across live events are trying to stand out now more than ever. Whether that is through a single feature to attract people to a stand or a solid brand theme, the world of exhibition stands and graphics is getting more creative and vibrant, as people look to not only create experiences but also capture the attention of those already wowed by the possibilities of digital ads and websites. So, what are some of the considerations of a stand builder, printer, sign-maker, or project manager when dealing with an exhibition job? Here we speak to a range of providers from the exhibitions sector including trade printers, installers, and material suppliers, to get their advice on undertaking exhibition projects. Venturing Into Exhibition Graphics One company that has realised several solutions for this market in recent years is Venture Banners, a trade-only printer which was established in 2009 to make ordering large-format print simple and accessible to businesses of all sizes. The company produces a range of products including stretch fabric walls, counters, stands, silicone edge graphics (SEG), lightboxes, and traditional exhibition systems. When asked about what to consider when working on an exhibition or eventbased project, Wayne Bodimeade, co-founder and director of Venture Banners, says that every exhibition and event is different. Therefore, it is important to choose products that suit the space, the message, and how the graphics are intended to be used. Bodimeade adds: “If they need to be transported between events or be reused, lightweight textile displays are a popular option as they’re easy to carry around, washable, and quick to assemble and pack away. Artwork must be carefully considered too as event graphics are often viewed at close range. This means that image quality, scaling, and positioning of information and imagery all needs to be checked to ensure key branding and messaging isn’t lost or partially blocked.” Continuing his advice, Bodimeade also reminds designers, customers, and signmakers to ensure logos aren’t lost inside a roller banner base, or that important contact information isn’t obscured when graphics are stretched into an SEG frame or around a stretch fabric frame. Due 60 email: editor@signlink.co.uk Issue 266 - August | September 2026 EXHIBITION STANDS | DAVID OSGAR
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