How to Enhance Events with Signage
When it comes to live events, first impressions count – and signage is often the first thing your attendees will see. At Alexander Boyd Displays, we’ve supported everything from leadership summits to exhibitions and festivals, and one thing always rings true: great signage doesn’t just support an event, it elevates it.
Our recent collaboration on the Fenergo Leadership Summit organised by the brilliant team at AXL Audiovisual Ltd, at the prestigious Galgorm Resort showcased just how powerful signage can be when it’s thoughtfully integrated into an event’s design and flow.
If you’re planning an upcoming event, here are some proven tips and tricks to help you use signage effectively.
1. Start with a Signage Strategy
Before designing anything, take time to map out your event’s journey from start to finish. Think about the attendee experience:
- Where will they enter?
- What spaces need branding?
- Are there moments where directional signage will ease flow? By thinking strategically, you can make sure signage isn’t just decorative – it’s purposeful.
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2. Use Signage to Strengthen Your Brand Identity
Live events are a brilliant opportunity to embed your brand in the minds of attendees. Consistent use of brand colours, fonts, and tone of voice across signage creates a cohesive and professional feel.
Don’t be afraid to go bold – large-scale signage like entrance graphics, window vinyls, or stage backdrops can make a huge visual impact.
3. Guide Guests with Clear Wayfinding
Directional signage is one of the most overlooked elements of event design. Good wayfinding ensures that your guests don’t get lost, and can even influence how they engage with different zones or activities.
Use clear, readable fonts, arrows, and consistent branding. Make it obvious without being overwhelming.
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4. Use 3D or Fabric Elements to Add Depth
Flat signs do the job, but dimensional signage – like 3D logos or freestanding fabric displays – adds richness and professionalism to a space. These features are particularly useful for photo opportunities, media moments, and key branding zones.
5. Prioritise Sustainability
Your signage doesn’t have to come at a cost to the planet. At Alexander Boyd Displays, we produce large-format print using water-based inks and offer PVC-free and recycled materials – including recycled blue-back paper for billboards and fabric printed on recycled opaque textiles.
These options reduce harmful emissions and help brands meet sustainability goals while still delivering standout visuals.
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6. Create Zones with Custom Signage
From branded coffee bars to breakout areas, custom signage helps define spaces, guide interaction, and subtly reinforce messaging. Items like lectern wraps, branded bars, demo stations, and totem signs can transform functional items into branded experiences.
7. Think Beyond the Stage
It’s easy to focus all attention on your main stage or screen setup – but signage opportunities are everywhere. Think windows, walls, corridors, lifts, stairwells – even the floor! Use these touchpoints to surprise and engage attendees.
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8. Plan for Reusability
Invest in signage that can be reused where possible. Modular displays, rewrap panels, and lightweight structures can be refreshed or rebranded for future use, saving on cost and materials in the long run.
Final Thoughts
Great signage blends form and function – it’s directional, promotional, and atmospheric all at once. Whether you’re hosting a high-end conference or a lively public event, getting your signage right helps your message land and your audience feel immersed.
Need help planning signage for your next event? We’d love to chat.