1.    Raised floor or platform: Let’s literally start from the ground up! A raised floor or a platform is typically a norm that is in seen in almost all Custom Stands, including the simplest ones.

Tip: Always include a raised floor in the stand design for your projects in India.

2.    Custom Design Stands: These stands are more popular than the modular stands in India. Modular systems are sparsely used and the show floor is dominated by custom fabrication booths, planned on a build-and-burn basis.

Tip: Discuss this key fact with your Client before making a choice between custom or modular elements.

3.    Rigging / Suspensions/ Hanging point: This is not possible at any of the venues in India yet!

Tip: Never put a hanging sign in the design for your exhibition project in India.

4.    Stand Heights: Permitted stand construction heights may vary from 2.5m to 4.5m with very few shows allowing up to 5m. Many exhibition organisers adapt the ‘set off’ rule – limiting the height of walls common with neighbour to x metres, then a 1 metre set off before you can raise the structure to the maximum allowed height.

Tip: Do not forget to check the rules in Exhibition Manual before Designing. Sometimes your local stand builder will be able to provide you with the accurate information quickly.

5.    Lighting: Most venues have very poor hall lighting! Do not count much on the availability of hall light for the visibility in your booth. Only few modern venues which were constructed recently have decent hall lighting. Check with your stand fabricator about the general illumination in the hall.

Tip: Have a good lighting arrangement incorporated in your design.

6.    Hospitality Desks / Bar Counters: These sections are not very common – stands above 36sqm may sometimes have a bar counter. It is more common to instead have the refreshments prepared in the pantry or store room and hire service boys or attendants to serve them at the discussion tables or meeting rooms. Having said that, an elaborate counter also stands out as a crowd pulling USP!

Tip: Think twice with your Client about the type of visitors targeted & how you would like to plan the hospitality.

7.    Build-up Days: Majority of the shows offer 2-3 days of build-up. Only few shows have longer build-up period. The buildup period also includes the time available for unloading all the trucks & cargo.

Tip: Check the build-up period & prepare your stand design accordingly.

8.    Build-up Hours: Majority of the build ups do not have any restriction on build-up hours and work may be permitted for 24 hours. A lot of work actually gets done late in the night.

Tip: Discuss the time schedule & practical plan with your local stand contractor in advance.

9.    Mock-ups: it may be prudent to ask your local partner for a mock-up of any complicated structures and design elements within the stand.

Tip: Include a full or partial mock-up within the contract with your stand construction partner.

10. Water supply & Drainage: The facilities provided for water supply and drainage in the booth are not reliable. In many shows they may not be offered at all!

Tip: Avoid kitchen sinks and other such utilities in your blueprint; plan to use disposable stuff in the kitchen.

Hope the above mentioned tips will be useful in preparing a Design / Design brief for anyone who will be starting with their first trade show in India!

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Author: Rohit Saraogi, Director & Co-Founder at JMD Design Desk Pvt Ltd, India

Got another question about Exhibiting in India?

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