How We Design Custom Display Stands in Australia: Our Proven Process
- 5 min read
A well-designed display stand does more than showcase your products, it creates opportunities to attract visitors, start meaningful conversations and leave a lasting impression. Whether you’re exhibiting at a trade show, expo or industry event, every detail of your stand contributes to how your brand is perceived.
At Barrett Exhibition Group, we’ve spent decades designing and building custom display stands for businesses across Australia. Our proven process combines creative design, practical engineering and quality craftsmanship to ensure every stand is tailored to the client’s goals. From the initial consultation through to installation and pack down, we manage every stage to deliver a seamless experience.
Here’s how our process works.
Step 1: Understanding Your Business Goals
Every successful custom display stand begins with a deep understanding of your business objectives. We do not start by picking colours or choosing graphics; we start by asking the right questions.
Before we start designing, we take the time to learn about:
- The exhibition or event you’ll be attending
- Your business and industry
- The products or services you want to showcase
- Your target audience
- Your budget and timeline
- Your marketing objectives
By understanding your goals from the beginning, we can design modular or custom exhibition stands that support your objectives rather than simply filling exhibition space.
Step 2: Site Assessment and Floor Plan Review
No two exhibition venues are the same. That’s why we carefully review the exhibition floor plan before moving into the design phase. We look for opportunities to maximise your visibility and ensure your stand is easy for visitors to find and enter.
During this stage, we assess:
- Stand dimensions
- Entry and exit points
- Visitor traffic flow
- Ceiling height restrictions
- Power and lighting access
- Venue regulations
- Nearby exhibitors
These factors influence everything from stand layout to visitor movement. A thoughtfully planned design helps maximise visibility while making the space comfortable and inviting.
By considering the venue early, we can also minimise unexpected challenges during installation and ensure the stand complies with organiser requirements.
Step 3: Concept Design
Once we’ve gathered all the necessary information, our design team develops creative concepts that align with your brand identity and exhibition goals.
Rather than asking clients to imagine the finished result, we create detailed demos that provide a realistic preview of the display stand before production begins. The design can then be refined based on your feedback before moving into manufacturing.
This collaborative approach gives you the option to refine the design, ensuring that every detail aligns with your vision.
Step 4: Material Selection
The choice of materials has a significant impact on both the appearance and durability of a custom display stand.
At Barrett Exhibition Group, we select materials based on their structural integrity, visual appeal, and sustainability. We frequently use a combination of structural timber framing, high-density board, fabric tension panels, and powder-coated metal.
For businesses attending multiple exhibitions throughout the year, we can also recommend durable materials that allow the stand to be reused across different events, helping maximise long-term value.
Selecting the right materials ensures the finished stand not only looks professional but also performs reliably throughout the event.
Step 5: In-house Fabrication
One of the biggest advantages of working with Barrett Exhibition Group is our in-house production capability. Unlike many competitors who outsource their manufacturing, we handle every stage of fabrication under one roof in our Perth facility.
Our team of expert fabricators uses state-of-the-art equipment, including CNC routers, laser cutters, and acrylic forming machines. This ensures a level of precision and quality control that is simply not possible when relying on external subcontractors.
At this stage, our team prepares detailed technical drawings and manufacturing plans to ensure every component fits together accurately. Our production team focuses on precision, ensuring the finished stand is both visually impressive and practical for installation.
Step 6: Pre-Build Testing
Before the display stand leaves our workshop, we conduct a complete pre-build. This involves assembling the entire stand to confirm that every component fits correctly and functions as intended.
This crucial step allows us to identify and resolve any potential issues in a controlled environment. We also test-fit all graphics and lighting elements to ensure they align correctly.
By resolving potential problems beforehand, we help ensure a smoother setup process and greater peace of mind for our clients.
Step 7: Installation
The final stage is bringing your exhibition stand to life at the event. Our team coordinates the logistics, onsite installation and final presentation.
Our team assembles your stand, applies the final finishes, and conducts a thorough quality check before handing it over to you. Managing these logistics allows your team to focus on engaging with visitors instead of worrying about installation or dismantling.
How Long Does It Take to Design a Custom Display Stand?
One of the most common questions we receive is about the timeline for a custom build. The timeline for designing and building a custom display stand depends on the complexity of the project, its size and the exhibition schedule.
While every project is different, a typical timeline looks like this:
|
Project Stage |
Estimated Time |
|
Initial consultation |
1–3 days |
|
Site review and planning |
2–5 days |
|
Concept design and revisions |
1–2 weeks |
|
Engineering and production |
3–6 weeks |
|
Pre-build testing |
2–5 days |
|
Delivery and installation |
1–3 days |
If you have a tight deadline, starting the planning process as early as possible provides greater flexibility for design revisions and production scheduling.
How Much Does a Custom Display Stand Cost in Australia?
The cost of a custom display stand varies significantly depending on several factors, including the size of the stand, the complexity of the design, the materials used, and whether it is intended for a single event or multiple events.
While smaller displays typically require a lower investment, larger exhibition stands with premium finishes, interactive elements and custom-built structures naturally involve higher production costs.
Generally, a small, basic custom stand might start from around $8,000. As the size increases and more custom features, such as integrated digital signage, led screens, bespoke lighting, or premium materials, the cost easily reach around $25,000.
Rather than focusing solely on the initial price, many businesses view a custom display stand as a long-term marketing investment. One of the key benefits of custom exhibition stand solutions is their ability to maximize brand impact by maintaining a consistent and professional presence at every exhibition.
Common Mistakes We Help Clients Avoid
Designing an exhibition stand involves much more than choosing attractive graphics. Over the years, we’ve helped businesses avoid common mistakes that can affect exhibition performance.
Some of the most frequent issues include:
- Leaving planning too late: Starting late often limits design options and can create unnecessary pressure before the event.
- Trying to include too much information: Overcrowded graphics and excessive messaging can overwhelm visitors. Clear, focused communication is usually more effective.
- Ignoring visitor flow: An attractive stand should also be easy to navigate. Good layouts encourage visitors to enter, explore and engage with your team.
- Choosing appearance over functionality: Storage, meeting areas, lighting and accessibility all contribute to a successful exhibition experience.
- Overlooking future use: If you plan to attend multiple events, designing a reusable stand from the beginning can provide better long-term value.
Why Do Businesses Choose Barrett Exhibition Group?
Choosing the right exhibition partner is just as important as the stand itself. Businesses across Australia choose Barrett Exhibition Group because we offer more than just stand construction, we provide a complete project managed solution from concept to completion.
With over 65 years of experience, Barrett Exhibition Group, one of Perth’s best exhibition stand builders has built a reputation for excellence in the Australian exhibition and signage industry.
- Decades of industry experience
- End-to-end project management
- Custom design approach
- In-house manufacturing capabilities
- Commitment to quality workmanship
- Reliable delivery and installation
- Focus on building long-term client relationships
Every project is approached with the understanding that your exhibition stand represents your brand. Our goal is to create display solutions that not only look impressive but also support your marketing objectives and deliver real value.
Conclusion
A successful exhibition begins long before the event opens. It starts with a well-planned design process that considers your business goals, exhibition environment and customer experience.
From understanding your objectives to concept development, manufacturing, testing and installation, every stage plays an important role in creating a display stand that performs effectively.
At Barrett Exhibition Group, our proven process has been refined through decades of experience delivering custom display stands for businesses across Australia. By combining creative thinking with practical expertise, we help clients create exhibition spaces that attract attention, encourage engagement and leave a lasting impression long after the event has ended.
Explore Our Other Blogs
How to Attract More Visitors to Your Exhibition Stand: Proven Techniques
Trade Show Checklist: Everything You Need for a Successful Exhibition
How to Prepare for Your First Trade Show: First-Time Exhibitor Guide
How Exhibition Signage Can Maximize Your Trade Show Presence
10 Common Exhibition Stand Design Mistakes to Avoid
7 Benefits of Custom Exhibition Stands for Trade Show Success
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