I recently judged D&AD's New Blood festival, looking at the Best Stand of the festival. There were several universities from across the UK showcasing their graduates' work, and some of the stands stood out way more than others, which meant in turn that some work was able to shine, while others was harder to see and appreciate.
Based on my experiences, here are my top tips for making sure your graduate stand stands out. You might also want to check out my piece on 6 things to do at your degree show, based on judging last year's festival.
1. Think about it like a shop
It might help to think about your stand like a shop. It needs to have a cohesive brand overall but also be easy to see individual wares/work. People should be able to go into your 'shop', look around and explore, with no one piece feeling like it's out of place or doesn't belong.
2. Have something interactive
The most memorable stands had something interactive for people to play with. For example, University of Westminster's BA Graphic Design stand had pages on display which could be used to make your own magazine. This provides people with something to take away and remember you by, and is also a fun activity that visitors will enjoy.
Ravensbourne University had a fun console to play with to showcase its students' showreels. This was much more interactive than simply a monitor.
3. Make sure it's clear who did what
The best stands had clear labelling of who did what on them, making it easy to see whose work was whose. The stands that failed to do this well were a little confusing, and sometimes it was unclear which label went with what, or labels were missing altogether.
4. Have contact details available
As well as showing who did what, make sure there are contact details available. Remember, you're graduate show is here to help you get a job, and if a potential employer doesn't find your contact details easily, they are likely to give up and move on to the next person. A QR code with a link to your website works well, as does a simple email address or a business card.
Arts University Bournemouth cleverly displayed its student contact details within a boarding pass design.
5. State what the brief was
This might not be possible depending on how much room you have, but stating what the brief was is a great way to help people understand your work. It also makes it easier to see whether or not you have fulfilled the brief, which is something employers will be looking at.
6. Use technology wisely
If you're showing a showreel, animation or some sort of video, then make sure that video is easy to see. Make sure that it can't accidentally be clicked off, and if you have headphones out for people to use, make sure there's actually some sound for people to listen to. You'd be surprised how many stands had headphones but no sound.
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