The Best Fonts For Eye-Catching Exhibition Displays

They always say “Think outside the box” when it comes to creative work. However, to stand out in a professional community of businesses, the wiser thing to do is to tread along tested trails. Exhibition events and trade shows invariably attract the best faces in the industry, which is why it is important to put due thought into designing your displays. The typography as well as the graphics must not only reflect your brand’s product and service offerings but also be consistent with the company branding.

Here we explore some of the best font styles to use to create eye-catching exhibition displays, factors to consider when choosing fonts, and more.

The Importance of Choosing The Right Font For Exhibition Displays

Exhibitions and trade shows are some of the busiest events in the business world. Visitors, which can include important decision-makers from renowned companies, are often bombarded with promising opportunities from the minute they enter, making it crucial for you to make a striking first impression, lest your brand falls into the ocean of mediocre companies.
On average, you get a window of a mere 3 seconds to make that impression; that is how long your visitor will likely spend skimming through the exhibition display panels and signages. To catch their attention and register in their minds within this ultra-short time frame, you need to use the right font for your display. And the right font style is not only visually eye-catching but is also cohesive with your brand and product offering. It can give visitors a clearer picture of what your brand stands for, your ethos, and your overall brand persona.
A font style that is inconsistent with your brand’s offerings, on the other hand, will reflect poorly on your credibility and goodwill. For example, a financial or medical company using graffiti or comic-style typography will likely be perceived differently than one that uses more formal standardised fonts.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Fonts

Here are a few important factors to consider when choosing a font style for your exhibition display.

• Readability– Exhibitions are typically conducted in large and open spaces. Hence, it is important to ensure that your display is readable even from a distance. Choosing a font that is too small or complicated in design will make it less legible, leading to missed opportunities.
• Brand consistency– The font style you select must perfectly align with your branding guidelines. It is important to stick to your brand’s persona when designing exhibition displays to instil your brand’s identity in the minds of visitors.
• Visual appearance– The font you choose must be visually appealing and engaging, with the power to make an impactful statement amid an array of businesses.
• Size/scale– The font size on your display must be optimised according to the size of the panel and the size of the venue. A general rule to follow is to ensure that the text height is approximately 1 inch for every 10 feet of viewing distance. Fonts that are too small or too large can adversely impact the effectiveness of your display.
• Alignment with product/service offering – Ensure that the font you choose stays consistent with your brand’s values and product offerings. For example, companies in less creative or technical niches are better represented by standardised and classic fonts.

Balancing Graphics With Fonts

Just as important as the font on your exhibition display panel is the rest of the graphics. While the font carries the weight of the brand message, the graphics complement the same and reinforce it to maximise the impact. For the same reason, you need to strike a balance when designing the display and incorporate a harmonious mix of font and graphic elements. Overwhelming graphics can take away the effectiveness of your message, whereas underwhelming graphics will reduce its reach.

As brand owners competing in the corporate world, it can be challenging to assess the impact of the collective visual appearance of the display.

This is where we can help you.

Board Printing Company is a veteran in the print industry with over 15 years of experience. Our in-house team of design experts possessing years of expertise in printed marketing assets can offer technical advice on how to optimise the typography and graphics on your exhibition display panels. They can review your print display choices and offer solutions to maximise the effectiveness of your event presence.

We also have a wide range of choices in print assets including exhibition display panels, composite boards, Foamex boards, sustainable Reboards, and more. Our Honeycomb Reboard is in fact, one of our bestsellers in POS printing assets.

The Best Font Styles For Exhibition Displays

Here are some of the most widely used and proven-effective font styles you can incorporate.

Serif Fonts: Serif fonts are the best choice to add sophistication and formality to your message. They feature decorative lettering edges, perfect for brands looking to convey classic professionalism. However, they may not be the most legible in a large and crowded event space. Some examples are Times New Roman and Georgia.

Sans Serif Fonts: Sans Serif fonts are well-known for their minimalist and sleek appearance. They are by far the most popular for exhibition displays as they offer the utmost clarity and readability. Statistics suggest that close to 75% of Fortune 500 companies use Sans Serif fonts for their logos. Some of the most widely used Sans Serif fonts are Helvetica, Arial, and Futura. In fact, Helvetica is so popular and omnipresent that it inspired an award-winning documentary on the topic in 2007.

Display Fonts: Display fonts are designed to be attractive and eye-catching. They are often used rationally in conjunction with other typefaces in headlines and short texts to create memorable visual displays. Examples are Impact, Lobster, and Bebas Neue, all of which help create a distinct look.

Slab-Serif Fonts: Slab-Serif fonts are known for their bold and strong presence. They feature thick block-like serifs that attract attention effortlessly, making them another popular choice for exhibition displays and signages. Some examples of Slab-Serif fonts are Rockwell and Courier, both of which are known for their impactful visual appeal.

Fonts That Stand Out in Exhibition Displays

Here is an overview of some of the best options in fonts that stand out in exhibition displays.

Wrapping up

The right font style impacts your presence in an exhibition more than you think; examining a few factors such as readability, brand consistency, size, and visual appeal can help you help you narrow down the best choice for your exhibition display panel. Incorporating some tried-and-tested classics like Helvetica and Futura can help you play safe, while also maximising your reach in a public event.

For expert assistance in display and font selection, and for all types of print assets including sustainable reboards, get in touch with Board Printing Company.