6 Ideas for Great Event Signage!

Event signage can make a huge impact on the design and success of an event. We've collected examples of signage from events at HELEN MILLS to show how signage in all forms - from gobos to posters to hashtags to swag - can transform the look, flow and marketing of your event. 1) Think Outside the Box

Kate Spade made a statement with their one-of-a-kind red carpet covering a New York City sidewalk! The signage also covered the venue doors as opposed to just covering the portholes. The effect was an immersive branded experience both inside and directly outside the venue for their fashion event.

Riddell covered an entire wall with images of their products and history and decorated other parts of the venue with real football helmets for their press event. Both the signage and products combined to create a feeling of excitement in the theater and offered something unexpected to guests. For more images, see here.

2) Incorporate Social Media

Hashtags, handles and check-ins are important in creating awareness and improving the effectiveness of event marketing. Lenovo made the most of this fact when they created a hashtag sign, featuring their #betterway campaign during their Yoga Tablet Launch event. The prominence and thoughtful placement of the sign ensured that attendees had no doubt what they should tweet!

3) Feature Products or Services

In addition to the name of the event, sponsors and an agenda, use signage to bring attention to your product or cause. Make Up  For Ever did this by placing their product in the porthole doors and with a standing banner on stage, flanking the speaker. This not only reminded event attendees about their work but also offered passerbys a glimpse into what they were passionate about.

It's nearly impossible to do wrong with candy. Perfetti Van Melle took advantage of this fact and featured their Mentos and Airheads candy on posters (left) and wrapped them around columns throughout the venue (right).

4) Use the Floor

The most common place for signage is hung or projected on walls or placed on tables, however, the floor is a great and unexpected place for signage. Below is an example of floor signage from PiperJaffray (left) which was created by projecting a gobo onto the floor. On the right, OpenX creatively used the theater steps as a space to brand their Publisher's Conference. Both effectively remind attendees of the event, even if they're looking down.

5) Use Original Artwork

While printed signage is great, handmade signage can offer a personal and unexpected touch to your event. Make Up For Ever featured artwork on a curtain dividing the venue (left) and an artist's work was featured along the runway for a New York Fashion Week show. Both pieces of art made for not only memorable signage but an interesting and unexpected backdrop to photographs.

6) Get Personal!

If you're planning a social event like a birthday party, bar or bat mitzvah or other celebration, don't afraid to make your signage personal! This bar mitzvah featured the bar mitzvah boy peering out from the portholes in the venue doors. This helped to make the venue truly personal for the party and also provided an eye-catching detail.

7) Create Portable Signage

People love getting gifts and event swag offers you the opportunity to make this happen. Gifts given out during events can serve to not only entertain guests but also to engage with your event throughout the experience. These foam hands from the FreeWheel event brought energy to a standard meeting and also have information about the event that attendees will keep with them, even after they leave the venue.

To Recap, when creating signage for your next event, remember to:

1. Think Outside the Box

2. Incorporate Social Media

3. Feature Products or Services

4. Use the Floor

5. Use Original Artwork

6. Get Personal

7. Create Portable Signage

Looking for a venue for your next event? Please contact us or call 212-243-6200 for more information. From Meetings to Bar / Bat Mitzvahs to Fashion Shows, see here for more information about the types of events you can have at the HELEN MILLS Event Space and Theater.