Exhibition design & build
Trade show booth
design & build
We design custom trade show booths and see them through to opening day: booth strategy, 3D concepts, material and lighting tests, fabrication, shipping and on-site build — with one team accountable from the first sketch to the last spotlight.
- What we do
- Booth strategy, design, engineering, fabrication coordination, installation
- Recent build
- ZAIJIAN MOSAIC, Coverings 2026, Las Vegas
- Typical timeline
- About 10 weeks from brief to opening day
- Team
- Washington, DC · New York · Guangzhou
- Pricing
- Quoted per project
- Reply time
- Within 24 hours
Why it matters
Most booths become background. Yours has a few seconds to stop people.
On a busy show floor, visitors decide in seconds whether to walk in or walk past. A booth that spreads every product across every wall usually loses that moment. The booths that work make one clear statement from the aisle, then guide people into a conversation.
That is how we approached ZAIJIAN MOSAIC at Coverings 2026, North America's largest tile and stone show. Instead of a cluttered display of samples, we built the booth around a single oversized mosaic art wall, lit so the craftsmanship read from across the hall, with a meeting area behind it for serious buyers.
We bring the same thinking to every booth: decide what the visitor should remember, design the space so they see it first, and make sure it is buildable, shippable and on time.
What's included
Everything a custom booth needs, under one roof
- 01
Booth strategy & layout
Goals, audience and traffic flow on your specific stand: where people enter, what they see first, where meetings happen and where products are touched.
- 02
3D concept design
Concept renderings and plans you can review with your team before anything is built, revised until the layout and story are right.
- 03
Graphics & brand content
Large-format graphics, product storytelling and signage that match your brand identity — we also design the identity itself if you need one.
- 04
Materials & lighting tests
Physical samples and lighting tests before production. For ZAIJIAN we built 1:1 sample sections to lock spotlight color temperature and angle.
- 05
Engineering & fabrication
Construction drawings and modular engineering, then fabrication coordination so the booth arrives in pieces that assemble the way they were designed.
- 06
Shipping & on-site build
Crating, international or domestic shipping, and supervision of installation on site, so the booth is finished before the show opens.
How we work
From brief to opening day
- 01
Brief & show research
We start with your goals, products and the show itself: hall plan, stand position, neighbors, the exhibitor manual and its deadlines.
- 02
Concept & layout
One clear idea that reads from the aisle, plus a visitor flow that leads from first look to conversation. You review 3D renderings and plans.
- 03
Samples & lighting
Key materials and lighting are tested physically, so what you approved on screen is what visitors see under the hall's mixed light.
- 04
Engineering & fabrication
The design is engineered into modules and produced. For international exhibitors, modules can be made and crated in China and shipped by sea.
- 05
Shipping & on-site build
We coordinate delivery and supervise assembly on site. ZAIJIAN's booth was assembled in Las Vegas and delivered ahead of opening, to spec.
Selected work
Booths and brands we have delivered
ZAIJIAN MOSAIC at Coverings 2026
A mosaic feature-wall booth, built as modules in China and assembled on site in Las Vegas.
Teaspa spa chain branding
Logo, guidelines, packaging and in-store graphics for a massage and spa chain with locations across Maryland.
LuPetz brand and US launch
Identity, a custom WordPress store and product visuals for a New York pet accessories brand.
How to choose a booth designer
Seven questions to ask before you hire anyone
Whether you hire us or someone else, these questions separate a good-looking rendering from a booth that actually opens on time.
- Can I see photos of built booths, not just renderings? Renderings are easy; finished booths under show lighting are the real portfolio.
- Who supervises the build on site? Ask for a named person who will be at the hall during installation.
- How are materials and lighting tested? Samples before production prevent the most expensive surprises.
- Is the design checked against the exhibitor manual? Height limits, rigging, flooring and electrical deadlines differ by show.
- What is the logistics plan? Who crates, ships, receives and stores the booth, and when it has to leave the workshop.
- Can parts be reused? Modular booths are easier to ship, store and reconfigure for the next show.
- Will we deal with one team or several vendors? One accountable team keeps design intent intact through fabrication.
Pricing
Quoted per project
Every custom booth is different, so we quote after a short call about your show, stand and goals. You get a clear scope and a quote before any work starts.
- Stand size and type — inline, corner, peninsula or island, and whether it has a second level or a closed meeting room.
- Construction — custom-built structure, modular system, or a mix of both.
- Special features — feature walls, product displays, lighting, screens and interactive elements.
- Logistics — where it is fabricated, how far it ships, and storage between shows.
- Timeline — the more lead time, the more options for materials and shipping.
FAQ
Trade show booth questions
Do you only design booths, or do you also build them?
Both. We handle booth strategy, 3D design and graphics, then engineering, fabrication coordination, shipping and on-site installation supervision. For ZAIJIAN MOSAIC we designed the booth, had the modules built and crated in China, shipped them by sea and assembled them in Las Vegas.
How early should we start planning our booth?
The ZAIJIAN booth took about 10 weeks from strategy to opening day. We suggest contacting us three to four months before your show, and earlier if the booth ships internationally or the show's exhibitor deadlines come early.
How much does a custom trade show booth cost?
We quote per project. The main factors are stand size and type, custom versus modular construction, special features such as lighting and feature walls, and logistics. After a short call we send a clear scope and a quote.
Can you work with exhibitors based in China or Asia?
Yes. Our team works in English and Chinese, with partners in Washington, DC and Guangzhou. That lets us brief, design and review with your team in China, have the booth made there, and still manage the build in the US.
Which shows and cities do you work in?
Our most recent build was Coverings 2026 in Las Vegas. Tell us your show and hall: we review the exhibitor manual and plan logistics, schedule and installation around that venue's rules.
What do you need from us to get started?
The show name and dates, your stand size and location on the floor plan, what you want to achieve (leads, launches, distributor meetings), the products to display, your timeline and a budget range. The exhibitor manual helps if you already have it.
Can the booth be reused at future shows?
If you exhibit more than once, tell us early. Designing in modules, as we did for ZAIJIAN, makes it easier to ship, store and reconfigure parts of the booth for a different stand size.
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