One of the best places to gain new customers, launch new products, and raise brand awareness for your tech company is at a tech trade show. But how do you design a tech trade show booth that will turn heads? Before designing your booth, it helps to know a little about tech trade shows and tech booths in general.
Jump To…
- Types of Tech Trade Shows
- How to Design Your Tech Booth
- What Is the Standard Size for Booths at a Tech Trade Show?
- How Far in Advance Should I Get My Booth Design?
- What Should I Consider When Creating My Tech Booth Design?
- How Can I Make My Tech Booth Design Stand Out?
- What Are Easy Ways to Make My Booth Stand Out at a Tech Trade Show? (Apart From Design)
- Completing your Tech Booth Trade Show Design
Types of Tech Trade Shows
There are many different types of tech trade shows around the world, but CES (Consumer Electronics Show), AWS re:Invent, and SXSW (South by Southwest) are some of the most influential tech shows in the United States.
CES
CES is put on by the Consumer Technology Association and is one of the biggest tech trade shows of the year–encompassing every aspect of the tech sector. It is usually held in January in the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada and features new products and technological developments in the consumer electronics industry. In 2023, it attracted more than 115,000 attendees, more than 3,200 exhibitors, and more than 40,000 international attendees from more than 140 different countries.
AWS re:Invent
AWS re:Invent is a tech trade show hosted by AWS (Amazon Web Services) every year in Las Vegas. It usually takes place in November, and is one of the largest IT conferences in the world. In 2022, 50,000 attendees and 300,000 virtual attendees took part in the event. AWS re:Invent is a learning conference that focuses on the global cloud computing community and features the latest developments in the IT world.
SXSW
South by Southwest is not your traditional tech trade show. The main purpose of this event, according to its organizers, is to “celebrate the convergence of tech, film, music, education, and culture.” It has three main divisions: music, film, and interactive. The interactive division focuses on emerging technology. This trade show is held in Austin, Texas every year. It is usually held in mid-March, and it had almost 300,000 attendees in 2022.
How to Design Your Tech Booth
Now that you know a little bit about the many different types of tech trade show events out there, how can you design the perfect tech booth for your company? Unfortunately, there’s not a “one size fits all” answer. Just as there are many different types of tech shows, tech companies, and tech events, there is also no end to the number of different booth designs out there. Even though we can’t tell you exactly how to design your booth, we can give you some tips that will go a long way in helping you design your best tech booth yet!
What Is the Standard Size for Booths at a Tech Trade Show?
A wide variety of tech shows can be found all over the country and even internationally. Because each tech trade show specializes in a different tech sector and has its own unique features and design, there is no standard size at a trade show event. A large array of tech booth designs of all different shapes and sizes can be found. Lightweight, portable pop up displays, large and impressive custom displays, and everything in between can be found at tech trade show events around the world.
The best way to determine the size for your tech booth design is to research the show itself. Find out the size of the show, the show layout, the booth spaces that are available, and the cost required for different-sized booths. At a smaller show, you might not need such a large booth for people to find you. At a larger show, you will want to do something to stand out. You also want to consider your budget to determine which size booth is best for you. If you want further help with this, contact our pros and we would be happy to help you out.
How Far in Advance Should I Get My Booth Design?
When designing your booth, you want to give yourself plenty of time to ensure your trade show event goes smoothly. However, starting too early on the design sometimes leads to “analysis paralysis”–where people get stuck in the design phase and have difficulty moving on to the next building phase. To determine the best time to get your tech booth design, research the tech trade show you plan to attend to determine how early you can send your booth. Most shows have advanced warehouse services available. Your goal should be to have your booth finished in time to send it to advanced warehouse. This way you don’t have to worry about shipping delays or paying rush fees at the last minute to get your booth to the event on time. Once you have determined when your booth can be sent to the tech trade show event, work backward to create a realistic timeline of when you need to ship the booth, when the booth needs to be built, and when the design needs to be completed.
What Should I Consider When Creating My Tech Booth Design?
When putting together a great tech booth design, less is more. It’s important to focus on one service or product rather than bombarding your customers with every product or service your company has ever offered. Remember, the purpose of your booth design is to intrigue the customers and draw them into your booth so you get a chance to interact with them face to face. Before you assemble your tech booth design, choose your focus for the next trade show–a tech product or service you want to highlight or another key message you want to emphasize. Once you have chosen your main focus for the next trade show event, design your booth around this concept. At this point, you can also choose to hire a professional who can create a tech booth that showcases your central theme. Either way, make sure that your design is focused and doesn’t try to cram too much information into the booth.
How Can I Make My Tech Booth Design Stand Out?
To make your tech booth design stand out, it’s important to think outside the box. There are many tech booth examples that are unique, but it is important that your design is also functional. When designing your tech booth, make sure to include plenty of lighting in the design. Dark booths are hard to spot. Recessed lighting, monitors, projectors, and backlit displays will make your booth easy to see on the trade show floor. Your booth should also be designed with comfort in mind. Comfortable seating and other small details go a long way in making customers want to stick around. Your booth’s design should allow it to be open to the flow of traffic so people can easily access your booth. Comfortable rugs and other conveniences go a long way in making your booth attractive to customers.
What Are Easy Ways to Make My Booth Stand Out at a Tech Trade Show? (Apart From Design)
There are many ways to make your trade show booth stand out in addition to your overall tech booth design. Some easy ways to make your booth stand out is to make it interactive.
- Samples
- Giveaways
- Raffles
- Games can attract a large crowd to your booth
- Live entertainment also draws a large group of people
To capture your customers’ attention, feature hands-on demonstrations at your booth.
When planning your tech booth design, consider what tech trade show supplies you will need to elevate your customers’ experience. If it’s a hot day, consider handing out cold drinks or handheld fans. Cell phone charging stations or other small conveniences make a big difference in booth popularity. Items that will make your customers more comfortable will go a long way in making your tech trade show display stand out.
Completing your Tech Booth Trade Show Design
There are many different tech trade show display ideas. The one that’s right for you will stand out, be comfortable and appealing to your customers, and uniquely showcase your main concept at your next tech trade show event. Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all approach for tech booths. There are tech booth examples of all types and sizes. Just remember to start early, research your trade show event, and focus on your target message. If you need any help, please contact us, and we will be happy to assist you.