Art fair stand graphics
A trade show stand shouts, and an art fair stand should do nearly the opposite. Your graphics are there to help the work sell, and then to disappear.
What a stand really needs.
Collectors walking the aisles want to know whose work it is, what it is, and how to take the conversation further. That is a very short list.
| Item | What it does | A simple way to do it |
|---|---|---|
| Your name | Lets people find and remember you | Cut vinyl on the wall, or the organiser's fascia |
| Labels | Title, medium, size and date | Small, neat and consistent, set beside each work |
| Statement | A short way in for curious visitors | One panel of no more than a few short paragraphs |
| Price information | Saves an awkward conversation | A discreet list on the desk, if the fair permits |
| Contact | Gets the follow-up | Cards or a QR code on a small sign |
Six ways a stand gets in the art's way
- A banner with your artwork on it. A printed picture of a painting beside that same painting only makes the original look smaller. Leave the wall for the real thing.
- Too many fonts. One typeface in two sizes is plenty. Use the one from your website.
- Heavy lettering. Big black type next to a delicate drawing wins the fight. Try a mid-grey, or a smaller size.
- Labels that wander. Choose one height, and measure it. Uneven labels make the whole stand look rushed.
- Ignoring the rules. Fairs often say how walls may be fixed to, and what must be returned to white at the end. Read your exhibitor pack before planning any vinyl.
- Tiny type under bright spots. Print a label at actual size and look at it from arm's length under a similar lamp.
Choosing materials
Lettering on a stand wall can look like part of the architecture. A matt white or grey vinyl will stay quiet, and it comes off at the end, though you should check that your fair allows it. Labels and statements on thin board look neater than paper, and are simple to fix. Try 1mm or 3mm Foamex. Tell us how the wall is built, because hook-and-loop fabric panels, painted boards and grids all need something different.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| 1mm Foamex mounting, A2 | £7 |
| 3mm Foamex mounting, A2 | £7 |
| Cut vinyl, 15mm to 40mm letters, per character | £0.65 |
| Cut vinyl, 41mm to 80mm letters, per character | £0.99 |
Guide prices from our price list. They exclude VAT and delivery and assume print-ready artwork.
Selling prints as well as originals?
Keep them away from the main wall. A browser or a shelf at the side is enough. Have prints ready in sleeves, numbered if they are part of an edition, and read our guide to printing limited editions so that the paperwork is ready. For a first show, read mounting photographs for exhibition, because a neat presentation is your first impression.
Quiet text beside the work.
Your questions.
Can you print a name vinyl that I fit myself?
Yes. Cut vinyl comes on a backing with an application tape, so you can position it yourself. Practise on a spare piece and take a level with you.
How big should my name be on the wall?
Large enough to read from across the aisle, but no larger. Our letter height guide gives you a starting point. Tape up a paper test if you can.
Can I use the same labels at my next fair?
If the prices are kept off them, yes. Keep prices on a separate list so a label does not go out of date.