Trade Show Displays Industry Lingo

Empower yourself with the language of insiders. We decipher the arcane terms, epigrammatic abbreviations, and weird words used in the exhibit displays industry.

Backlighting

Lights inside the display that shine through your graphics. Backlit displays can often create a high-impact visual image.

Briefcase Displays

Small panel or pop-up table displays that turn into a "briefcase," with your graphics still attached inside, for easy transportation.

External Frames

Encase the fabric of the display in metal or plastic, emphasizing each individual panel. They are useful for displaying multiple pictures or segmenting your product offerings.

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Frameless Displays

Consist of a plastic panel bent so the ends meet to create a standing structure. The side of the structure that contains the graphics faces out for display.

Header

A banner placed above the display that announces your message or company name.

Internal Frames

Hidden beneath the fabric, this type of frame allows panels to join closely together so they're flush, providing a single smooth surface.

Island Displays

Versatile, freestanding displays, usually made up of different panels, podiums, and towers arranged on a booth's floor like "islands" in an ocean. They can divide up into many different configurations.

Modular Displays

The frames adapt to varying shapes and sizes and are used for custom-built displays. Panels are smoothly jointed and usually require professional setup.

Panel Displays

Typically consist of fabric-covered solid segments that are connected together to make a wall.

Pop-up Displays

Exhibits that use an accordion-style folding frame, covered with magnetic-backed fabrics or plastic panels.

There's more to learn about trade show displays than just terminology! Read our Trade Shows Buyer's Guide for detailed advice that takes you through every stage of the purchasing process.