In today’s event landscape, creating an immersive, engaging atmosphere is paramount to captivating modern audiences—and one simple graphic tool makes it easier than ever. Decals are one of the most adaptable and cost-effective tools in an event planner’s branding toolkit. They’re simple to implement, offer endless customization options, and can elevate the look and feel of any venue, regardless of layout. From columns to floors and windows to elevators, decals transform idle spaces into immersive branding moments, creating a unified, immersive, engaging environment that resonates with your attendees. In this blog, we’ll explore various ways to incorporate this budget-friendly graphic tool into your next event. You’ll see before-and-after examples showing how decals can bring your event’s identity to life, add value for attendees and sponsors, and enrich the overall experience, one decal at a time!
Back to Basics
So you’ve already decided to incorporate decals into your event’s branding efforts, but where do you start? When it comes to impactful event branding, sometimes it’s best to start with the basics! What makes decals so appealing to many planners is just how versatile they are, regardless of your venue’s layout, and smart placement of these decals can really help elevate your event’s overall design. Walls and floors, in particular, are two areas where decals shine compared to traditional event signage. Column wraps can showcase themes central to your event, transforming structural features into branding opportunities, and floor decals can add splashes of your color scheme across the venue while engaging attendees as they move to their next location. Decorative window decals that mirror your event branding help to create a cohesive look from the moment guests arrive, while mirror and elevator decals can spotlight event sponsors and give high-visibility, functional spaces a dual purpose. By starting with these essential touchpoints, you can craft an engaging and unified atmosphere throughout your event.
This is a clean, professional entryway setup with general event information. The design provides clear communications and maintains a professional look, ensuring attendees can easily navigate the space.
This is the same entryway with more engaging elements that amplify the professional atmosphere with location-based and themed graphics. This enhanced design utilizes columns, floors, and window decals to integrate the event’s branding, creating a cohesive, dynamic environment that engages attendees by pointing them in the right direction the moment they enter.
Highlight Your Location
Where an event is held has become an increasingly important factor to would-be attendees when considering which meetings to attend. Many planners already incorporate their host city into their event’s content through local attractions, food, and nightlife. You can take this concept even further with your branding! Find the things unique to your host city and incorporate them into your event’s theme—especially through interactive elements. In the example below, we showcase how elements from San Francisco’s easily identifiable Golden Gate Bridge in the designs on the banners and big-impact areas like venue column wraps. We’ve also used the fun and iconic street car design on an interactive graffiti wall where guests can share their thoughts. Consider incorporating local landmarks, colors, or symbols into minor details like table centerpieces, signage, or attendee badges for a cohesive look celebrating your host city. This approach immerses attendees in the destination’s culture and creates memorable photo opportunities, strengthening the connection between your event and its unique location. Highlighting your location is a great way to cultivate your event’s atmosphere at your event and get your attendees excited about all your host city has to offer!
A welcoming lobby area with clear, professional signage directing attendees to the networking lounge. The straightforward setup easily communicates necessary information while maintaining a clean, uncluttered look.
An immersive transformation of the same lobby, incorporating local landmarks and an interactive graffiti wall to engage attendees. With thematic branding inspired by the event’s location and immersive prompts that invite participation, this setup elevates the attendee experience by blending functionality with a more memorable atmosphere.
Dress Up Your Idle Space
Just as highlighting your location can help you build your event’s atmosphere, highlighting your venue’s unique offerings is also a simple and effective way to elevate your branding on-site. Decals allow for a wide range of branding opportunities and will enable you to decorate just about any sized surface. This opens the doors for a lot of creative options! You can look for big-impact areas like empty walls in your venue’s entranceways or atrium, stationary focal points like ballroom pillars, and functional infrastructure from elevators and escalators to non-traditional options like trashcans and recycling bins. You might also incorporate thematic decals highlighting your event’s core message or values, such as sustainability graphics on said recycling bins or inspirational quotes on mirrors and restroom doors. These subtle touches enhance your branding and keep attendees engaged with your event's story throughout their visit. The seamless integration of design and function can make even the smallest details enhance your event’s professional feel and create an environment that fully embodies your brand. This creates a cohesive look that strengthens your event’s identity for a more immersive and memorable attendee experience!
An entryway design exemplifies professionalism and clear wayfinding. With a direct "Welcome" sign, the graphics communicate to attendees they’ve arrived at the right spot, creating a functional and informative space that emphasizes clarity and ease of navigation.
Building on the professionalism of the first image, this enhanced design introduces immersive elements that enrich the experience and excite attendees about the event’s many offerings. Bold, vibrant graphics along the walls and entry signage convey a sense of the event's brand and purpose, creating a memorable first impression. Additional decals and imagery highlight key themes, making the space informative, engaging, and reflective of the event's vision. This design leverages big visuals for a more substantial emotional impact and greater immersion in the event’s atmosphere.
Branding On The Go
Just as important as branding your event’s idle spaces, dressing up the transitional spaces can help add some fun interaction to your event! Decals along areas like hallways and corridors can transform a simple walk to the next breakout into an engaging experience, and thoughtful branding in these areas can help keep attendees engaged between main sessions. Consider hallway wall decals that showcase key milestones in your brand or event’s history or interesting facts about your event’s theme. Directional floor decals can be functional and fun, guiding attendees while incorporating event-relevant graphics or inspiring messages. These touches elevate your branding and add layers of storytelling that make even the in-between moments of your event memorable.
A banner offers a simple, straightforward guide to the auditorium, effectively communicating the venue’s location with a bold arrow and clear text. The design is professional and functional, ensuring attendees have a clear sense of direction without unnecessary clutter in a high-traffic hallway.
Enhancing the basic wayfinding setup while remaining clutter-free, this design incorporates immersive elements related to the event’s theme to engage attendees as they walk to the next session. This approach informs and immerses attendees, giving them a deeper sense of connection to the brand or event as they navigate to their next breakout!
Point Towards Branding
We mentioned wayfinding decals for your hallways, but you can take this a step further and enhance all your event’s directional signage with decals that reinforce your theme at every turn! Directional wall signs and arrows printed on repositionable decals can guide attendees while seamlessly blending with your event's look and feel. Decals are a great way to elevate your existing signage as well! Add stick-on header decals or directionals to your signage that match your event’s color scheme, transforming standard easel signs into cohesive, branded statements for a polished touch. You can also make a bold impression by placing custom cut-to-shape decals on windows or near your registration desks for an eye-catching focal point that welcomes attendees and immediately sets the tone for your event while simultaneously guiding them on their way. Branded wayfinding elements bring a functional spin to your event graphics and can help ensure a smooth attendee flow while enhancing your event’s overall aesthetic.
A classic registration setup providing directional support, an agenda, and a branded table. This practical design allows attendees to easily navigate the space and access relevant information at a glance for a minimalist but effective kick-off to their event experience.
Building on the initial design, this upgraded setup adds immersive floor and wall decals to ensure the wayfinding elements guide attendees with greater clarity while keeping the space easy to maneuver. The bold colors and thematic graphics on the window clearly identify the registration desk while providing a visually cohesive atmosphere for a finished design that goes beyond functionality to create a memorable first impression on attendees.
Let's Get Started
With the right decals in the right places, you can turn any event space into a branded, immersive experience that keeps attendees engaged and excited. They’re a versatile, cost-effective way to highlight your event’s theme, showcase sponsors, and guide your guests—all while adding a polished, professional touch to your meetings. If you're just starting to explore how decals can enhance your event's branding, be sure to check out our How to Shop: Floor & Wall Decals blog for the best way to find a product that works for both your brand and your venue. Are you already using decals at your event? Let us know your favorite uses in the comment section below!