Touring exhibition graphics
A touring show gets built, packed and rebuilt in rooms you may never have seen. Its graphics need planning for the journey as well as the opening night.
Design for the worst venue.
The easiest mistake is planning around the first gallery on the tour. Instead, list every venue and work to the smallest wall, the lowest ceiling and the narrowest door. A show that fits there will fit everywhere.
Plan in modules
Break the story into separate panels instead of one long wall. A module can be left out in a smaller room, or re-ordered to suit the visitor route, without reprinting anything. Keep each panel able to make sense on its own.
Choose for handling, not just looks
- Weight. Someone has to lift every panel, at every venue.
- Edges and corners. These take the damage, so protect them when packing.
- Surface. A laminate helps a panel cope with fingerprints and repeated handling.
- Fixings. Agree one simple system that works without special tools, and check it against each venue's rules.
Fabric, boards or portable stands?
| Option | Strength | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Rigid mounted panels | Crisp, flat and solid | Bulk and weight in transport |
| Fabric graphics | Light and folds small | Needs a frame or hanging system |
| Pop-up displays | Fast to build, wheeled case | Fixed sizes |
| Roller banners | Very quick to set up | Best as supporting pieces |
Pack it like it will be opened by a stranger
It might be. Number every panel, label each case, and include a simple layout plan and a list of contents. Photograph the show at the first venue so the next team can see how it should look.
Allow for spares
Damage happens. Keep your print files safe and clearly named so that one panel can be reprinted quickly mid-tour. For panels you know will take a battering, such as ones at the entrance, ask about a spare from the start.
Changing text between venues
Local credits, sponsor logos and opening dates change. Put these on a small separate panel so the rest of the show stays untouched.
Exhibition panels at scale.
Your questions.
Can you reprint one panel from a set?
Yes, as long as we have the artwork. Keep your final files safe, and tell us the original specification so the new panel matches.
Will a reprinted panel match the rest?
Materials and older graphics can change over time, so a new panel may look slightly different beside a well-travelled set. Ask us if a close match matters.
Do you produce the whole show?
We can print graphics, panels and complete stands. Tell us what you need and we will confirm what is included in the quote.