It’s no secret that trade show booths have come a long way over the last 30 years. New venues, industries, and global paradigm shifts have all required key exhibition industry stakeholders to keep themselves ahead of the design curve. Whether it be implementing interactive features to their booths through new marketing strategies, or sourcing new supplies per the latest regulations, nobody can deny the ever-evolving landscape of trade show booth designs.
As the industry advances further and further into the 21st century, we’ve felt the need to highlight some new exhibition booth design trends below. No matter your industry or expertise, these game-changing new stand design directions can make all the difference in keeping your brand relevant and exciting.
From technology integration to immersive designs, let’s take a look at six future-proof booth design trends that CEOs and marketing managers should be aware of!
1. Modular, flexible, and portable trade show booths
With logistics costs on the rise and so many shows packed onto an annual exhibition calendar, it’s no wonder more businesses are opting for modular exhibition booth design approaches. In this regard, adaptability and versatility are critical ingredients for any modern exhibition stand; these two aspects will become even more important in the future.
Although usually not as extravagant as the premium custom-built showpieces, modular designs offer any B2B business the peace of mind that their exhibition booth is reusable and easy to transport. From one event to another, each modular stand is specifically designed to be reused and seamlessly reinstalled without you having to spend more and more on installation fees. Moreover, their simple construction also facilitates portability; most modular trade show booth designs can be stored compactly in their disassembled state.
Another benefit some trade show veterans have discovered about modular stands is their flexibility. Remember that not all exhibition events take place in the same venues and with the same audiences, so frequent exhibitors often find the need to scale their booths up or down. This is precisely where modular trade show booth ideas can help since they are easily scalable to different sizes. No wonder they’re so popular!
2. Interactive technology integration
The trade show floor is a big place, with a multitude of lights, sounds, and professionals to meet. In such a crowded sea of activity, businesses have had to invent new ways of making their exhibition booth designs more eye-catching to potential customers. What better way to do this than by incorporating the customer directly into your booth design ideas?
For decades, simple mechanical elements like games or dispensers were considered the pinnacle of interactive exhibition booths; these were indeed highly successful ways for companies to stand out from their competitors. Over time, however, the global tech revolution paved the way for more advanced designs.
Today, both visual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) visitor experiences form the standard for any highly interactive modern trade show booth. Both of these technologies allow you to transport visitors into your brand world through different levels of immersive visualization not otherwise possible. In so doing, both AR and VR thus create a memorable and immersive experience for trade show attendees who have an eye for something different.
Going forward, an increasing number of trade show exhibitors will leverage new interactive technologies like AR, VR, touchscreens, and digital kiosks for their booth designs. Despite their associated costs, technologies like these can be total game changers on expo days if implemented correctly.
3. Sustainable and eco-friendly designs
A once neglected design focus for many years, sustainability and eco-friendly trade show booth ideas are now at the forefront of the contemporary global exhibitions industry. For the first time, greater importance is being delegated globally to protecting the environment for future generations to enjoy. Considering so many world-class exhibitions are held annually in different parts of the world, it’s not surprising the industry has embraced this particular goal. Shipping materials and traveling all around the world hurts the environment, but there are ways to offset this.
Sustainable exhibition stands are the way forward for international trade exhibitors that want to start offsetting their environmental impact, and many of them can be built using recyclable materials such as cardboard and bamboo. Lighting displays, meanwhile, can be adjusted to use eco-friendly LED lighting systems that still achieve the same effect.
At Booth Exhibits™, we also believe that there’s always room for sustainability in any great trade show booth design. By choosing sustainability, you’re choosing to be a part of the solution that enables the trade show industry to thrive for many years to come. That’s why we’re always on a mission to create trade show displays that are just as as sustainable as they are eye-catching.
4. Minimalist concepts
We’ve explored various exciting features to enhance your trade show booth design, but it’s crucial to remember that sometimes less is more! Industry experience shows that cramming too many elements into one stand often results in a gaudy display, which can backfire. Today, many booth designs are shifting towards minimalist and open-space concepts that are clean and uncluttered.
Opting for a sleek, minimalistic display ensures your brand exudes professionalism on exhibition day. Minimalist stands not only look elegant but also offer better visitor traffic flow and interaction opportunities, thereby boosting attendee engagement. The significant impact of an uncluttered booth is why so many exhibitors are embracing simpler, more effective design ideas to market their brands.
In a sea of bright lights and buzzing crowds, keeping your exhibition booth minimalist has proven to be a sure method in directing your audience where they need to be.
5. Personalized and custom booth elements
Another common booth design mistake exhibitors have begun to rectify in recent years is crafting a trade show display that is too generic. Certainly, failing to present your booth and your brand appropriately is a sure recipe for disaster on exhibition day. If potential customers can’t discern what you’re marketing or who you are, then all the effort that went into your booth design will be wasted!
Fortunately, it isn’t too difficult to work around this. By incorporating your marketing data analyses into your booth ideas, you’ll have taken the first step toward making your trade show display more personalized and unique. Consider unique design features and styles that represent your brand and resonate with your target audience; stands that do this are usually more successful.
Creativity is an important aspect here, too. New technologies and materials are always becoming more accessible to exhibitors year-on-year, which can be used creatively to design more personalized displays. Moreover, new digital innovations mean companies can get better insights into their audience than ever before, which helps them design booth displays that better target their customers.
6. Immersive environments
Studies show that the design of an exhibition booth heavily influences whether or not an attendee will visit, while simultaneously providing a positive business atmosphere on the show floor. It’s all about creating a memorable experience, and the best way to go about that is by focusing on the senses.
When it comes to contemporary trade show displays, it’s common to shape your design in such a way that it caters to sound, light, scent, and touch. The more senses you can cover, the greater the immersion of a potential customer in your product and brand. A good way to go about this is to view your booth environment as one that tells the story of your brand and product; it’s wise to pay some more attention here to ensure you get the theme and colors just right.
Some display booths go the extra mile and even cater to taste, which can be achieved by providing refreshments or some kind of snack machine to attendees. They’re not always common and can drive up short-term costs through machine rental fees, but can be worth it long-term due to the sheer exposure you’ll receive. It’s very difficult to ignore something that tastes, sounds, looks, feels, and smells good!
Revolutionize Your Exhibit: Key Takeaways and Next Steps
There we have it! Six big new design trends that are set to reshape the exhibition industry for many years to come. Greater environmental regulations, new digital technologies, and increased shipping costs all open the door for new design innovations; why not incorporate interactivity or minimalism into your next exhibition booth? Consider these trends when discussing your next trade show presence and you’ll be sure to stun the competition!
At Booth Exhibits™ we’d love to play a part in your success. If you’re in the market for a modern exhibition booth that uses some modern exhibition design trends, why not give our online stand price calculator a try? It’s fast, accurate, and free!
FAQ
What makes a good trade show booth design?
A good trade show booth design is unique, engaging, appealing, and clearly branded without being overcomplicated.
How to design a custom trade show booth?
Custom trade show booth’s require a bit more effort to pull off, so it’s best to work with an exhibition stand designer that can make your vision a reality.
How much does it cost to set up a booth at a trade show?
Booth setup costs vary widely depending on location, which show you’re attending, the size of the booth, and the necessary staff requirements.
How do you plan a trade show booth?
It’s best to start with an exhibition plan, which you should draw up with your marketing team and where you outline your goals and vision for the trade show.
