What are Modular Trade Show Displays

Modular, by definition, means “employing or involving a module or modules as the basis of design or construction”.  Just as there is modular housing, there are modular trade show displays.  The question most people ask is – If I want my trade show exhibit to be unique, how could a modular design work for me?  Great question!  When you see a living community where every house looks exactly the same, it is off-putting to think of your exhibit looking this way.   However, modular displays don’t have to look the same by any means, and offer a tremendous amount of flexibility from show to show.  Let me explain using three main points of emphasis.

1) Flexibility

Flexibility is a great feature to have in any trade show exhibit.  Imagine designing a great custom exhibit that satisfies all of your needs, then having that same exhibit not be up to code for another one of your events.  This happens all too often with integrated designs (the opposite of modular designs).  What if at one show you have a 20×20 space, but you need to scale that same exhibit down to a 10×20 for another?  Again, a situation that modular trade show displays flourish.  Using scalable framing systems, standardized graphic sizes, and their tendency to have easy setup makes modular trade show displays quick, flexible, and impactful.  Add some custom elements and high-impact graphics to get the full effect you expect from your display.

2) Life-Span

It is hard to outdate an exhibit that is always adapting.  With modular displays companies can easily replace outdated graphics, shift the design from year to year, and  strip/add components at the drop of a hat leading to a drastic increase in life span.  There is nothing worse than putting in the effort to create an amazing display that for one reason or another isn’t relevant a year or two down the road.  Modular design and build techniques allow for the booth to constantly be updated and refreshed, keeping it relevant longer.

3) Cost Savings

For those who are on a tight budget, there is no better way to get the most bang for your buck than a modular trade show display.  Not only does it allow the flexibility and life-span that truly custom exhibits do not, it also saves in other ways.  The time to install and dismantle a modular trade show display is significantly less leading to savings on I&D labor.  The materials used in modular displays are often lightweight frame systems that will decrease the aggregate weight, and ultimately save on shipping and drayage costs.  All of these factors in addition to the general cost savings recognized when using modular exhibits makes for one great turnkey solution.