Before thinking about the stand's design, it's worth answering a more basic question first: where in the hall will it go? Location shapes the design, the budget, and, to a large extent, how many people walk past it.
Corner, in-line or island
An in-line stand has a single open side, with the other three shared with neighbouring stands — the cheapest format and the most common in large halls. A corner stand opens two sides, gaining visibility in exchange for a somewhat higher cost per square metre. An island stand (all four sides open) gives the most presence, but also demands a more polished design, because it's seen — and judged — from every angle.
Near the entrance isn't always better
It's tempting to request the location closest to the hall entrance, but visitor traffic doesn't always concentrate there — it's often spread towards the central aisles or areas with parallel activities (auditoriums, networking zones). It's worth checking the venue's floor plan from previous editions before deciding.
What to check before choosing
- Visitor flow map from previous editions, if the venue or organiser provides one.
- Where your direct competitors are — sometimes it's worth being close (shared traffic), sometimes better to be further away.
- Allowed height in that specific area of the hall — not all the floor space allows double-height structures.
- Loading and unloading access during assembly, especially if your stand has heavy or large-format elements.
Once the location is decided, the design can genuinely adapt to it — instead of forcing a project designed for a different type of space.