What makes a good pull-up banner?

Pull-up banners are one of the hardest-working things a business can buy. They go to trade shows, open days, receptions and conferences, and they’re usually seen from across a room by someone who is walking past. Here’s what we’ve learned from designing them for bakeries, charities, software companies and golf clubs.

1. One message, not ten

Less is more. A banner isn’t a brochure. Pick the one thing you want people to remember, whether that’s what you do, an offer or a call to action, and make it big. Leave the detail for the conversation and the leaflet.

2. Put your name at eye level

Your logo belongs in the top third, where it can be seen over people’s heads. The bottom third of a banner is often hidden behind a table or a crowd, so keep anything important out of it.

3. Design for distance

Most people will see your banner from several metres away. Use large, simple type and strong contrast between text and background. If you can’t read it at the size of your thumbnail on screen, it won’t read across a hall.

4. Use one strong image

One great photograph does more than a collage. McGhee’s banners use a single close-up of a roll or a traybake that makes you hungry from the other side of the room. Make sure images are high resolution: what looks sharp on a screen can look soft at two metres tall.

5. Be timeless

Banners last for years. Avoid dates and short-term offers on the main panel unless the banner is for a single event, so you get your money’s worth.

6. Think in sets

If you exhibit regularly, design your pull-ups, backdrop and leaflets together. GHA Solutions use a family of matching banners that work on their own at small events or together on a full stand.

7. Make it easy to carry

If you travel to events, choose a system that packs into its own carry case and goes up in minutes. Fabric display systems are a great step up for regular exhibitors.

Need a banner for your next event? See our exhibition and banner design service, or ask for a free estimate.