Inclusive design is more than just a tick-box, it’s a way to ensure that your brand is reaching everyone in an effective and supportive way. Isolating your clients and network must be avoided by preparing a design that accounts for all.
We’ve selected some of our top tips for ensuring that everyone can engage with your business.
Let’s talk about it! Never underestimate the power of clear, effective communication with attendees. Ensure that your graphics and print are clear, high contrast and readable for those with visual impairments. Consider offering electronic presentation materials with audio-visual elements that can describe text and images. It’s no secret that you have to communicate with your leads, so ensure you’re freely offering up the information dotted around your stand. Ask if your team on the ground are trained in diversity and inclusion, and who can be best placed to maximise interaction.
While some venues require all stands with a platform to have wheelchair access, it’s not all about ramps. Does the layout of your stand have clear, well lit and signposted walkways that allow for ease of mobility? Ensuring your space is free of cables and trip hazards is more than just a safety precaution, it’s a way to highlight your stand as a welcoming space to connect. When considering ramps, question the placement and flow of the space for wheelchair users. If it doesn’t feel welcoming and easy to navigate, rethink the layout.
Going hand in hand with communication, staff training is paramount to ensuring inclusivity in the exhibition space. Knowledge of sensory disabilities, visual and or auditory impairments and mobility impairments is an important step to accommodating attendees. A good training programme should provide a variety of opportunities to improve accessibility within the business.
When distributing promotional materials and goodies, think about what you are using. If food is involved with your stand, ensure it’s clearly labelled, and your staff know exactly what is in each of the products. Offer up the information freely without being asked, this will create a genuine sense of care for your delegates. For giveaways, consider branded sensory toys.
Offering variety in your seating is a great way to be accommodating. Leaving space within seating areas for wheelchair users should be considered when mapping the layout of your stand. If possible, creating a quiet space or an area including sensory details can highlight your brand as approachable and safe. For those keen to highlight the use of tech within their practises, assess whether assistive technologies can be incorporated. Not only does this highlight your modern approach to business, it shows that your forward thinking strives to include everyone.
Aiming to include all when planning the design of your stand is great for ethics and business. For more tips on how to make your stand accessible, reach out to one of the team – we’ve got you covered!
