subject: Using Trade Show Displays As Museum Exhibits [print this page] Using Trade Show Displays As Museum Exhibits
Designing a great museum-style exhibit is always a challenge. It has to capture the attention of your visitors without overwhelming them with too much information. It has to make excellent use of images and text, intertwining the two for maximum impact. Museum exhibits also have to promote education that isn't required for trade show displays. Beyond that, however, the basics of good portable displays and strong banner stands are quite similar, leading many well-known museums to ask commercial exhibit companies to help with design.
A Question Of Scope
There are many different types of galleries, and the exact design that works best for your situation must be tailored to the setting. If you are focusing on a traditional gallery setup, there are several factors to consider. First, what is your scale? If you're outfitting a historical home with informational panels, you won't have the same kind of room as if you're reworking an entire wing of an art gallery.
Many Options For Portable Displays
If you require portable displays, your answers will have more complexity. While all trade show booths will require travel, only some gallery exhibits will. Thus, even if your gallery usually works with an independent gallery exhibit company, it would be worth consulting a trade show design company just to determine whether or not there are new types of exhibits you should be considering.
Trade Show Displays Or Museum Exhibits?
The design fundamentals are almost identical between museums and exhibitions. In museums, however, there is nothing to promote; all information is educational. The most important consideration is to arrange all text so that it complements and enhances display items. In an exhibition, those display items would be products. In a gallery, they're artifacts, paintings, or other items with educational or historical value. Like at a trade show, you want to communicate to the people who see them, telling those people why they're interesting and unique. Making this distinction is easier in a gallery than at a convention, simply because every item in a museum has an interesting and unique heritage. Everything is inherently exciting, without being marketed first.
Banner Stands And Other Tools
Apart from the classical designs of trade show displays and other commonly considered exhibits, there are many other convention-specific tools which can be used elsewhere in educational presentations. One key example of this is banner stands. These tall showpieces are great for helping direct people to specific displays or destinations. Whether you are trying to highlight a newly opened caf, drive traffic to a neglected book shop, or simply help people navigate a large gallery, well-placed banner stands can make a big difference. In addition, banner stands are commonly inexpensive and can be easily stored and sometimes reused if you're featuring a temporary exhibit.
Putting It All Together
The goals of trade show displays and museum exhibits are identical. The key is to tune the exhibits so that they're educational above all, yet never lose their interesting qualities. Regardless of whether you choose a well-known company that works exclusively with museums or a strong company that specializes in conventions, if you keep your educational goals in mind, you'll end up with a great exhibit at the end.
