What is exhibit booth design?
Exhibit booth design is the strategic, engineered planning of a trade show booth that supports experiential marketing goals through layout, brand communication, structural design, and operational execution.
What’s the difference between a custom booth and a custom-designed rental?
Both rented and purchased booths have custom elements, and both are built on the same basic structural elements. A rental offers more flexibility for reconfiguration, scaling up or down, and testing new concepts. Rental components can be more limited due to demand, and purchasing your booth enables truly unique designs that don’t depend on existing structures. Many of our clients choose a hybrid program, renting the bulk of the structure and buying custom elements to make it truly unique.
Should I buy or rent my exhibit booth?
Buying often makes sense for companies that exhibit at multiple shows annually and seek long-term leverage. Renting is often preferable for companies testing markets or attending occasional flagship events.
How long does a custom exhibit booth design take?
Timelines depend on size and complexity. Larger islands and double-deck exhibits typically require additional time for engineering and fabrication planning.
Can you redesign or refresh an existing booth?
Yes. Many companies improve booth performance through structural reconfiguration, new messaging, updated finishes, or modular additions rather than replacing the entire exhibit. We can redesign or refresh an exhibit built by Downing Displays or one built by someone else.
Do you support international shows?
Yes. International exhibits require planning for shipping logistics, venue regulations, and regional labor structures. Downing Displays coordinates design and execution with a network of vetted partners.