Decals are more than just decorative elements—they’re powerful event communication and branding tools. Whether you're guiding guests, promoting sponsors, or enhancing the overall atmosphere of your venue, decals offer a versatile and cost-effective solution. In this blog, we’ll explore the functionality, placement, design, material selection, and everything in between when choosing the perfect decals for your event. With the right approach, decals can seamlessly blend form and function, delivering impactful messaging and elevating your event experience. Let’s dive in!
Functionality
Purpose: Like all effective signage, decals are more than just decorations; they're communication tools! Whether you're directing traffic, branding your event, or identifying rooms, decals can be a cost-effective solution to tackle multiple communication goals simultaneously. How you plan to use your decal might affect which option you choose. If you’re opting for a fun arrow-shaped directional decal for wayfinding or are looking to boost your sponsors' branding with something like an escalator wrap, you might opt for a material that can be die-cut or cut into custom shapes.
Placement: From walls and windows to floors and doors and everything in between, there isn’t a surface that can’t be branded with decals! When deciding on placement, it’s essential to consider factors like removability, non-slip properties, and durability to guarantee they stay put where you need them. Branding floors is pretty straightforward, you’ll want to opt for a textured decal material. With smooth surface coverage for use on walls, mirrors, glass, and even unconventional surfaces like trash cans, you have more flexibility. You can consider factors like whether the product needs to be die-cut and if you prefer adhesive or static options to guide your final choice.
Temperature can also play a role in deciding which decal is best for you. If you want to brand a sidewalk or outdoor patio at your venue, you’ll need to consider how the weather will affect your adhesive. A strong adhesive means peace of mind, knowing your branding won’t be going anywhere, no matter the weather. If your branding is going on window-facing walls (even inside), consider options with matte finishes to reduce the glare so your efforts are visible at all times.
Durability: There are decal options for just about every durability expectation, whether for a one-time event or long-term use. For temporary events, any decal other than the more aggressive vinyl options will work. All these options go up quickly, are durable enough to last through your event, and come up without leaving any residue. While these repositionable decals can generally stay up for an extended period, for long-term or even permanent use, you may opt for vinyl decals or other decals with a stronger adhesive.
Design and Visuals
Branding: Decals are a great way to make your event's theme or company's branding make a big impact at your meeting. Make sure to align all your company or sponsor’s colors, fonts, and logos to ensure a cohesive and professional look across your event.
Visibility: Clear, easy-to-read decals are essential, especially for directional signage. As with branding, consider printing high-contrast colors and legible fonts on your decals to ensure your message is seen and understood, even from a distance. As such, design becomes less of a consideration when it comes to visibility, and factors like sizing and placement can help you decide what decal is best for you. For some best practices and general guidelines on how you can boost maximize your graphics effectiveness on-site, be sure to check out our Differentiating Your Event Through Visual Communication and Branding blog!
Size: It’s no surprise that the bigger something is, the easier it is to see. So, while size plays a big role in visibility, there are other factors to consider when selecting your decal size. Decals are a great way to dress up empty spots in your venue, transform them into prime photo op spots, or boost advertising in otherwise inaccessible locations like elevator doors. Due to limitations with the static cling and weight it can reliably hold, the maximum print width of typical static decals is around 28” x 40”. Vinyl and adhesive decals, on the other hand, are limited only by the printers used during production and the size of the roll of the material. It’s worth noting, however, that the larger a decal is, the harder it can be to install. Utilize your venue’s installation team if available, or consider segmenting your graphic into smaller, more manageable parts while still achieving that seamless look!
Material and Application
Material: Material often goes hand-in-hand with function and placement. Specialty usage typically demands specialty material, so when branding things like floors, you’ll usually opt for textured material suitable for heavy foot traffic. Certain materials can also limit what can be done regarding custom shapes or sizes in general. Venue restrictions can also come into play when selecting your material. For adhesive limits, you can use static decals to brand your surfaces. Branding can also play a part in your material selection if the aesthetic you’re chasing requires a transparent design, as only the adhesive vinyl is available with a clear background.
Application: Easy application and removal are essential. Whether you're a DIY enthusiast or prefer professional installation, there are options to suit your needs. The difficulty of installation does correlate directly with size. The larger a decal is, the more time-intensive (and potentially more challenging) it is to install. Some materials, like the static decal and certain types of wall decals, are more forgiving, even at larger sizes, and the low tack or lack of adhesive means it’s less likely to stick to itself during installation. Vinyl, on the other hand, features a more aggressive adhesive, and at larger sizes, outsourcing the installation might be the safer (albeit more expensive) option. Whatever option you choose, a squeegee tool can help make installation easier and leave you with a more seamless graphic free of air bubbles once you’re finished!
The other part of an installation to consider is the removal. Low-tack adhesive clings are much easier to remove than vinyl, but static decals give no resistance at all when it comes time to tear down!
Additional Considerations
Budget: We understand that every event has a budget, but decals can be a great way to make a big impact without the big price tag. Most of our decals are priced identically by square inch, meaning you won’t pay more for the decal that best suits your event’s needs. You may find that eco-decals are priced a few cents higher per square inch but help substantially reduce your event's overall carbon footprint with their 100% recyclable feature, which we’ll explore more in the next section! Shipping costs are also a consideration when budgeting for your events. The benefit of all decal options is that they can segmented to ship in a smaller package. This not only makes installation easier but can also reduce the costs of shipping versus a single sizeable roll-up style decal or larger meterboard or rigid substrate of the same dimensions.
Sustainability: Sustainability is rapidly becoming a priority for planners everywhere. Just because your company has a green initiative doesn’t mean you need to compromise on your branding! Certain eco decals offer the same benefits as traditional Wall Decals but are composed of a 100% curbside recyclable material, bringing a green spin to your branding efforts. Because these decals can be disposed of after the event, they also reduce return shipping, making them an excellent replacement for things like banners or traditional signage.
As we mentioned previously, these eco decals are priced a few cents higher per square inch, so if this option doesn’t quite align with your budget, don’t fret! Most wall decals and static Decals are removable and reusable, meaning you can use them across events to cut down on waste while still working towards a greener events industry!
Let's Get Started!
Incorporating decals into your event strategy can transform your venue, amplify your branding, and create a memorable experience for attendees. You can select the perfect decals that meet your event's needs and budget by carefully considering factors like functionality, placement, durability, and sustainability. Whether aiming for a temporary setup or a long-lasting installation, the right decals will ensure a lasting impression wherever it's used. Looking for a starting place? Check out our decals page or consult our convenient comparison chart below to explore the endless possibilities of these versatile graphics!