4 Ways Startups Can Join the Design Revolution in Event Exhibits

Do you remember the last advertisement you saw while booking a cab on a mobile app? Do you recall the stall at the expo where you interacted with people and handled a product you were interested in? The answer to the latter is likely to be a yes.

In most marketing communication plans, events have a conspicuous spot. Firms in different stages of their lifecycle, from infancy to maturity, dabble in experiential affairs and trade shows. Design plays a substantial part in helping your booths stand out in the competition. It builds avenues to see the brand in action – come alive, so to say.

Are Events Helpful for Startups?

Taking part in relevant events can be a promising way to heighten visibility and foster connections. This makes them highly pertinent to new enterprises.

In addition to attending events, more companies also consider organizing experiences. They needn’t be grand; even small-scale fiestas can spark awareness. They express a company’s interest in belonging to the larger ecosystem.

Recently, Forrester conducted a survey on events. It indicated that 77% of business owners focus on building year-round attendee engagement. Budgets are down due to economic downturns and markets are volatile. This situation warrants fully utilizing the shows your budget does permit. You must persevere to maximize their impact on your ROI.

As of 2025, startups are experimenting with unusual visual techniques for trade show exhibits. They are changing how audiences interact with their brand for the better. Let us assess how your company can use revolutionary design to make the most of events.

#1 High-Impact Display Options

The days of monotonous pamphlets and static posters are past. Enter: edgy, eye-catching communication. 

Commercial programs are typically frequented by various stakeholders, from buyers to vendors. A stellar display that makes your brand offerings known is essential to reach them. 

For example, some firms now use a Quadro Floating Graphic System to create a feeling of suspension for their product. You can rent a trade show exhibit and source this captivating display technology. Aero overhead hanging signs are also a striking option and affordable for smaller budgets.

Many organizations now use a combination of color and lighting to attract visitors to their stalls during events. Specialty Fabrics Review observes that fabrics like polyester can amplify the content. The appropriate yarn can let the light bounce, reaching viewers like you wanted. You can pair it with LED lights to keep things cool.

#2 Tasteful, Functional Accessories

Once things get going, trade shows can be high-momentum. You must prepare for visitors and enquirers at odd times – think lunch hour. It might seem intuitive, but many exhibits get chaotic when the organizers don’t anticipate the footfalls well enough. Incorporating necessary accessories in your booth is a smart way to marry design and functionality.

First, the basics: You will need workstations and monitor stands. Charging stations. 

But look beyond: How about uniquely made counters, like curved pedestals or a genius bar? Counters are a convenient way to showcase your brand without getting too in-your-face. You can always arrange the items based on the overall structure of your stand: island or inline.

A case in point is what Doordash did at the Sundance Festival in 2024. The company set up a box office and a hotel front desk to offer attendees all the essentials for the festival. The desk even gave out ChapStick and eyedrops to handle the emotional ride of movies from different genres. Who says a stall must conform to a specific design arrangement as long as it wows customers?

According to Classic Exhibits, you should also consider accessories like iPad kiosks and literature shelves if your organization requires them. The idea is to tailor the look and feel according to your marketing plan. This close connection is even more vital for startups due to their tighter budget constraints. Every carefully orchestrated event is an opportunity to make an impact.

Another incentive of having all the required accessories handy is that it simplifies data collection and follow-up. You don’t want to miss out on possible connections, which is likely if your visitors feel hassled about charging their devices or accessing your brochures.

#3 Avenues for Brand Interaction

With numerous items on the calendar, a degree of sameness can seep in for most attendees. After a point, the monotony of booth after booth starts to grate. Interactive display technologies can break this boredom and increase visitor involvement.

An Exhibitor magazine feature admires high-level interactive technologies like AR and VR for their contribution to guest excitement. Thanks to these tech advancements, visitors can view 3D models of products. They can also perceive how the products will appear in a real-world setting, like their workspace or home.

As a startup owner, you might struggle to justify the budget for immersive simulation in your stall. It may feel like an indulgence you don’t need (and cannot afford). However, you can employ interactive tech in cheaper ways, like building a video wall showing your company’s evolution and offerings. An interactive kiosk is a very simple addition. But it can tremendously improve a visitor’s experience.

The biggest bonus of these technologies is their immense impact on brand recall. We tend to remember much more after interacting with a product or service instead of just looking at it. These leads will likely recognize you when you connect with them afterward.

#4 Partnerships for Immersive Tunnels

The staged tunnel to take visitors through a guided tour of the company has become wildly popular in the communication sphere. Event Marketer magazine attributes the success of tunnels to how they bridge the past-present-future continuum. They immerse attendees in a branded extravaganza.

For example, Legendary Entertainment conceptualized a fabulous tunnel at the Licensing Expo 2024. It was an intimate way to feel the stories of their successful movie franchises. (It helps that Dune and Godzilla are both heavily visual affairs.) The mesmerizing tunnel also presented ample opportunities for Insta stories.

A themed tunnel exhibit may not be feasible for a new business. Not unless it has a generous budget. However, why not explore partnerships to make it possible? 

Organizations often team up for programs to cement their commitment to the sector and showcase their belonging. For example, you may connect with an eco-friendly vendor to highlight your product’s sustainability commitment. Shared messaging will cost less but the impact can be phenomenal.

So, what are you planning to do innovatively for your next event? It is a dog-eat-dog world, and communication teams worldwide are frantically brainstorming on how to get a meatier share of the pie. 

Strategically planned event organization and participation with bold and unmistakable displays should give you an edge in this madness.