30 Creative Event Signage Ideas for Branding and Sponsorship

Is your event signage working toward your event goals, or against them? What about  sponsorship ROI? If you’ve limited yourself to basic signs pointing out queues and bathrooms, you could be missing out on opportunities to promote your brand and even drive results for sponsors.

Event signage is a must-have to facilitate a smooth attendee experience, but if done creatively, can also inspire your attendees to take action — such as engaging with a sponsor or uploading a photo to social media.

So how can you wow your fans with event signage that’s not just super clear, but also memorable? Here are 30 creative branding ideas for events to up the ante on your signage, and help your sponsors get noticed.

Branding ideas for events

Branding ideas for events #1: Barriers

Barriers are used to create an entry chute that funnels fans smoothly into your check-in point. They’re also a prominent place to put directional messaging, as well as sponsor and branding information. Have some fun with these signs can also make waiting in lines more interesting for attendees.

Branding ideas for events #2: Stair wraps

Stairs can be used in creative ways at your event and direct attendees to where they need to go. This could achieved by wrapping each individual stair creating a message running up or down the stairs, or by wrapping a large staircase to create one cohesive image that comes together when viewed from the bottom.

Branding ideas for events #3: Graffiti walls

One unique way to display information and branding is with a graffiti wall. To connect with your community, partner with a local artist to create the wall live at your event. It doesn’t even need to stay on the wall, as digital graffiti walls are now available for event hire (pictured below).

Branding ideas for events #4: Projections

If you’ve ever been to Melbourne’s White Night or Sydney’s Vivid Festival, you’ll know that light projections are white-hot right now and always pull a crowd. Light projections don’t have to be complicated to be impressive. Projected messages, animations or branding can instantly liven up a dull or dark space.

Branding ideas for events #5: Media wall

Similar to a light projection, but instead of art and colour, project live feeds for news or social media updates. This can be interactive, with guests seeing their own messages appear on the wall.

Branding ideas for events #6: Balloons

Got a simple message you need to jazz up? Try foil balloon lettering. Balloon displays can be seen from a distance and look great in photos.

Branding ideas for events #7: Oversized text

Say it loud and clear with oversized text. This can be great for event or brand names and are popular backdrops for large festivals, such as the Rhythm & Vines ‘Hollywood sign’ style logo (pictured below).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjvmTHgBJBb/

Branding ideas for events #8: Mirrors and windows

Mirrors and windows: Large windows or mirrors can be used for event signage at a very low cost. They are great surfaces for using printed decals, or for a budget option, simply write your message in liquid chalk.

Branding ideas for events #9: Bathrooms

From decals on mirrors to signage on the back of stall doors, bathrooms can be a great way to promote messages to a captive audience.

Branding ideas for events #10: Light-filled letters or lightboxes

Put your name in lights! Light-up lettering can make a simple statement, or illuminate a branded message with a lightbox backdrop.

Branding ideas for events #11: Signposts

If there’s lots to see and do at your event, consider offering a sign posts to one of your sponsors as a branding opportunity. The signs can be used to point attendees to event offerings, as well as the sponsor’s own activation or display.

Branding ideas for events #12: Floor signage

Floorspace is an often under-utilised space for signage. For indoor events, look at removable floor decals. For outdoor events, you can use chalk or spray paint and stencils to offer directions or highlight brand messages.

Branding ideas for events #13: Floating signs

If your event space has a pool or water feature — put it to work! Champagne brand Veuve Clicquot used a floating hashtag to encourage social sharing at VC Carnaval (pictured below).

Branding ideas for events #14: Pillar wraps

If your event venue has large concrete pillars, liven them up with colourful wraps.

Branding ideas for events #15: Vehicle wrap

Wrapped vehicles can be used to showcase a brand both at your event and on the road. Consider using your event details (such as logo, website, or even date and locations) on branded vehicles. Pinot Palooza is a wine event that goes “on tour”, so they use a branded vehicle (pictured below) when visiting wine regions and film road trips for social media content.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcZAHxLnrON/

Branding ideas for events #16: Neon

Modern neon signage has become an art form in itself, with everything from logos and quotes to elaborate illustrations coming to life in bright and fun colours.

Branding ideas for events #17: Floral arrangement

Liven up your event branding or signage (literally!) with flowers, like jewellery brand ‘Grew & Co’ at Perth’s One Fine Day wedding expo (pictured below).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjRSRFEAA-m/

Branding ideas for events #18: Floral wall

To really make an impact or liven up an entire expo display, look at creating an entire floral feature wall. They look stunning and make ideal backdrops for photos and Instagram selfies.

Branding ideas for events #19: Natural landscape

If your venue is outdoors, you can use the landscape to complement your branding (instead of purchasing flowers). For instance, nestle a sign within the plants, or use trees instead of unattractive poles.

Branding ideas for events #20: Charging stations

There’s a good chance everyone at your event has a smartphone and if you want them snapping plenty of pictures and video, consider creating a charging station. The benefit for your brand or sponsors? You’ll have a captive audience while they wait to power up, so use the space to sell your message or charge a premium for sponsorship.

Branding ideas for events #21: Wristbands

Wristbands are a great way to get a message to every attendee. They can showcase a simple printed message or logo, or you could take inspiration from Heineken, who created branded drink-card wristbands as part of an event marketing campaign (pictured below).

Branding ideas for events #22: Printed shade cloth

For outdoor events, protect guests from the sun with branded shade cloth, or use to brighten up chain link fencing.

Branding ideas for events #23: Drink cups

Cups are another easy way to get your event or sponsor’s brand into the hands of every attendee. The Wellness Festival thinks outside the box by offering branded drinking coconuts to highlight their Instagram handle, @colourandcoconuts, in a memorable way (pictured below).

Branding ideas for events #24: Chalkboards

Easy to create and update, chalkboards can be an inexpensive way to place signs through your event.

Branding ideas for events #25: Scrabble art

Use oversized scrabble tiles to spell out your message.

Branding ideas for events #26: Furniture

Tabletops and printed chairs offer unusual, but highly visible, spaces to display your event signage and brand. Consider a blanket with your event name or branded pillows to add more information.

Branding ideas for events #27: Staff uniforms

Your event staff can also be used as roaming message boards! Consider using t-shirts to include your social media handles, or suggest asking for directions to a highlight event attraction.

Branding ideas for events #28: Event badges

Signage that every attendee will take with them, event badges can be cleverly branded to provide tons of information. From branding on the lanyard to a QR code that encourages event app downloads, consider how your messaging can be applied outside of the name tag information.

Branding ideas for events #29: Screens

Putting your branding on a screen is ideal for night events and large festivals, ensuring it can be seen from any vantage point, like above a concert stage (pictured below).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcWdS4fh1zo/

Branding ideas for events #30: Marquees and tents

If you or your sponsors are using white marquees or tents, take the opportunity to use them as a blank canvas to promote messages to your attendees.

Secure more sponsors

Now that you’ve got some branding ideas for your event, it’s time to secure more partnerships. Find out how with this guide, How to Win Sponsors for Your Event (and Bring Them Back Every Year).