Temporary exhibition design glossary

Temporary exhibition design by David Kelley

The exhibition design sector is known for its specialist terminology. David Kelley pinpoints the must-know jargon

Bespoke stand - A purpose-designed exhibition stand.

Brand values - The set of core values and qualities that sum-up a brand.

Brief - The instructions issued to the designer by the exhibitor explaining what they want from a project and listing the money and materials available.

Modular stand - A scalable stand comprised of component parts designed for re-use in various configurations without modification. It may be bespoke or off-the-shelf and will generally be flexible and easily transportable.

Pop-up system - A small, lightweight and easily transportable off-the-shelf stand that is very simple to assemble and is generally limited to a graphic wall.

Reusable stand - A bespoke stand designed with reuse in mind. Typically less scalable and flexible than a modular stand but nonetheless reusable in different configurations.

Roughs - Loose sketches of a solution.

Shell scheme stand - A basic stand provided by the organiser, typically comprising back and side walls and a fascia board for exhibitor name. Often referred to in the USA as 'pole and drape'.

Tender - A process by which a designer will submit a proposal and thereby bid for a contract, in competition with other designers.

Visual/perspective - A drawing that suggests three dimensions on a two-dimensional surface.

Working drawing - A detailed and scaled constructional drawing produced by the designer for issue to a contractor.