Why It’s OK To Sometimes Break The Rules Of Good Design

Good design should be at the heart and soul of your exhibition stand, and that’s why working with a professional of experts like the team at Glass Shed Exhibition Stand Design London makes such strong creative and commercial sense. But today we thought we’d have a quick chat about when it’s OK to break those design rules. As the old saying goes, rules were made to be broken. While it’s great to follow tried and tested formulas, nothing innovative or groundbreaking would ever emerge if someone, somewhere, didn’t throw away the rule book every once in a while! At Glass Shed Exhibition Stand Design in London, we’re not exactly rebels, but we are certainly innovators, passionate about design, and creating something truly unique and bespoke for our clients.

You need to understand the rules before you can break them!

This is such an important point to make, and it’s precisely the reason why we can bend the rules from time to time. It may sound like a cliche, but you need to understand the rules before you can break them! Having a very clear and defined overview of the applicable rules (including regulations, compliance, and legislative framework) will help you to understand what the potential outcomes are of breaking it. When it comes to the rules of design, you can make a conscious decision to subvert the norm if what you’re hoping to achieve is a different but ultimately still positive outcome.

If you are breaking the rule, do so for a reason!

We’re not advocating breaking rules just for the sake of doing something radical. Going against the norm shouldn’t be an act of rebellion, something you do just because you have a reputation for being edgy. If you’re going to try out something new by pushing the boundaries of what’s usually acceptable, then make sure you have a sound motive for doing so in the first place. Don’t buck trends and accepted practises “just because” and try not to get too carried away either. You must weigh up all outcomes and scenarios and balance risk with stability. Perhaps stick to testing out two variables with any overall design concept. That way, you’ll be able to quickly assess if those elements don’t work without having to go back to the design drawing board.

Inject some fun and interest into your stand design.

While it’s essential that your stand is functional and has strong usability, trade shows can get a bit samey samey. That’s where having some fun points of interest and design differentiation can help you stand out. The most important thing is that your design supports and works with, not against, the product or service that you are presenting. If you already have a playful brand identity, then you can certainly get away with being more entertaining and irreverent.

Good design usually is all about being unobtrusive, but think about it for a minute. If you’re in a massive exhibition hall, you don’t want to be sitting quietly in the corner, looking all pretty but catching no-one’s eye. The purpose of exhibiting at a show is to draw attention to what you’re offering, so it pays to do something big, bold, and unique that sets you apart from your competitors.

Design aesthetics are important, but you don’t want to end up with something that’s all style over substance. So, yes, sometimes it’s perfectly OK to break the rules, but only if you’re working with a group of exceptional designers, builders, and project managers who understand how best to bend them.

Get in touch with us today and take advantage of our no-quibble consultation service. We’d love to hear from you.