Table-top displays

Ask how big the table really is

Organisers often describe a table without giving its size, so ask before you order. A trestle table at a university fair is very different from a small round one at a hotel. Remember that the display has to share the surface with brochures, a laptop, a sign-up sheet and perhaps a bowl of sweets. Allow for that by leaving at least a third of the table free. If a wall sits close behind you, check that nothing blocks your display from the front.

Design for someone sitting down

A display on a table sits at about chest height for a person standing, and at eye level for someone seated, so the top third does the heavy lifting. Put your name and one clear benefit there. Keep lower areas for a web address or QR code, because a laptop or leaflets may hide them. Short text matters more than ever at this scale: visitors stand near you, but they are also glancing past three competitors on either side.

Pick the format that suits your journey

If you take table-top displays by train with a laptop bag, weight outranks everything:

• Mini roller stands set up in seconds and pack small
• Small folding pop-up displays make a wider backdrop behind your table
• Printed table cloths or runners brand the whole front edge
• Literature holders and other exhibition accessories help keep things tidy

Tell us how you plan to get there, and we'll suggest something you can manage on your own.

Related topics

• Exhibition counter graphics