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Exhibition designer

  • Hours

    30-40 per week

  • Starting salary

    £16,000 + per year



The work

As an exhibition designer, you would design displays and stands for events such as:

  • large commercial public exhibitions like the Ideal Home Show
  • conferences and exhibitions for trade and industry
  • temporary displays for businesses, museums, libraries and galleries.

Your work could include:

  • discussing requirements with clients
  • presenting your ideas as sketches, scale plans, computer-generated visuals and models
  • producing final specifications after discussion with clients
  • handling orders for supplies
  • liaising with technical specialists such as lighting staff.

In smaller companies, you would oversee the construction of the exhibition components, and assembly and installation at the exhibition venue.

Creative Choices shows an exhibition designer with his own company.


Hours

Your basic working day is likely to be 9am to 5pm, but you may need to work extra hours to meet deadlines, especially when events are being staged.

Your work is likely to be studio- or office-based, but would usually also involve visiting clients or exhibition sites. In some jobs you may need to travel extensively, in the UK and possibly overseas.


Income

  • Newly-qualified designers can earn around £16,000 a year.
  • Experienced designers can earn between £20,000 and around £60,000.

Freelance designers are usually paid a fee for each exhibition.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.


Entry requirements

You may be able to enter exhibition design at junior assistant level. It will be an advantage if you have interest and ability in areas such as computer aided design (CAD) and photography.

For both courses and jobs you would need to show evidence of your design ability, so you should put together a portfolio of your art and design work before applying either for work or training.

Many employers will expect you to have a formal qualification. The British Display Society (BDS) offers a distance learning course in Display and Visual Merchandising and accredits courses offered by other providers, their website has details.

At higher education level there are degrees, HNDs and foundation degrees in design-related subjects. Some universities offer degrees in exhibition design. Other relevant degree subjects include:

  • spatial design
  • interior design
  • three dimensional (3D) design
  • graphic design.

Entry requirements for courses may vary, so you should check with colleges and universities for their specific requirements. If you do not have formal qualifications you may be considered if you can show exceptional talent through your portfolio and experience.


Training and development

You may be able to take part in a graduate training scheme with larger companies. Other training opportunities will depend on your employer and the size of the company.

D&AD runs courses, workshops and design award schemes for members, including Workout, a range of one-day development courses. Visit the D&AD website for details.

You may find it useful to join a professional organisation such as the Chartered Society of Designers, as this will give you access to advice, and opportunities for ongoing training and development and networking.


Skills and knowledge

  • design and artistic skills
  • the ability to think creatively and laterally
  • technical drawing skills
  • the ability to use computer design packages
  • model making skills
  • the ability to work to tight deadlines
  • good communication skills
  • mathematical skills
  • awareness of health and safety issues
  • teamworking ability.

More information

D&AD (Opens new window)
9 Graphite Square
Vauxhall Walk
London
SE11 5EE
Tel: 020 7840 1111
www.dandad.org

Design Council (Opens new window)
www.designcouncil.org.uk

Association of Exhibition Organisers (Opens new window)
119 High Street
Berkhamsted
Hertfordshire
HP4 2DJ
Tel: 01442 285810
www.aeo.org.uk

British Display Society (Opens new window)
Tel: 020 8856 2030
www.britishdisplaysociety.co.uk

Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) (Opens new window)
1 Cedar Court
Royal Oak Yard
Bermondsey Street
London
SE1 3GA
www.csd.org.uk

Creative and Cultural Skills (Opens new window)
Lafone House
The Leathermarket
Weston Street
London
SE1 3HN
www.creative-choices.co.uk


Opportunities

You could be employed as part of a team in an exhibition design practice. Other employers include museums with their own design departments and large retailers.

With experience you may be able to progress to a more senior position, such as team leader or senior designer.

You could also become freelance, in which case your success would depend on building up your contacts and reputation.

You may find the following links useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (Opens in a new window) there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.


Related industry information

Industry summary

The design industry is part of the creative and cultural industries, represented by the Creative and Cultural Skills Sector Skills Council, which also includes: craft; cultural heritage; literature; music; performing arts; and visual arts. The creative and cultural industries currently employ 678,480, people, of which 24% are based in London. There are 74,640 businesses in the creative and cultural industries, of which 87% employ less than 10 people.

The design industry covers a range of disciplines, including: communications; graphic; product and industrial; interior and exhibitions; digital and multimedia; and service design. Design is an integral part of modern culture combining aesthetic techniques, practicality and creativity to deliver solutions that make everyday life simpler and businesses more effective.

Key facts:

  • There are 193,969 people working in the design industry, of which:
    • 51% are in communications, interior and exhibition
    • 42% are in product and industrial design
    • 7% are in stage and set design
  • There are 18,105 businesses, of which 94% employ less than 50 people.
  • 34% of the design workforce is located in London and the South East.
  • Design contributes £6.8 billion to the UK economy.
  • 32% of the design workforce is self‐employed.
  • 14% of the workforce work part‐time.
  • 50% of those working in design have a level 4 or above qualification.
  • Men and women are equally likely to have a qualification at level 4 or above.
  • Women are likely to earn less money than men (66% of women in design earn less than £20,000 per year, compared to only 39% of men).

Jobs in the industry include: advertising design, computer game designer, costume designer, exhibition designer, fashion designer, footwear designer, graphic designer, industrial designer, interactive designer, interior designer, product designer, textile designer, textile maker.


National and regional data

Northern Ireland – There are 11,640 people working in the Northern Ireland creative and cultural sector. 2% of the UK design workforce is located in Northern Ireland. Design in Northern Ireland contributes £164 million to the UK economy. More than 99% of the design workforce is white and 72% of the workforce is male. Only 12% of the design workforce in Northern Ireland is self‐employed.

Scotland – There are 45,420 people working in the Scottish creative and cultural sector. 7% of the UK design workforce is located in Scotland. Design in Scotland contributes £327 million to the UK economy. 99% of the design workforce is white and 68% of the workforce is male. 26% of the design workforce in Scotland is self‐employed.

Wales – There are 24,060 people working in the Welsh creative and cultural sector. 3% of the UK design workforce is located in Wales. Design in Wales contributes £73 million to the UK economy. 96% of the workforce is white and 64% of the workforce is male. 31% of the Welsh design workforce is self‐employed.

[N.B. The data for the following regions are for the creative and cultural sector as a whole.]

East Midlands – There are 44,380 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 7% of the UK sector workforce. There are 3,950 creative businesses in the region, of which 92% employ less than 50 people. 35% of the workforce is self-employed. 63% of the workforce is male. 95% of the sector workforce is white and 54% are under 40 years.

East of England – There are 63,700 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 9% of the UK sector workforce. There are 6,710 creative businesses in the region, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 37% of the workforce is self-employed. 66% of the workforce is male. 95% of the sector workforce is white and 46% are under 40 years.

London – There are 164,690 people in the sector workforce in London, representing 24% of the UK sector workforce. There are 21,600 creative businesses, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 51% of the workforce is self-employed. 58% of the workforce is male. 84% of the sector workforce is white and 56% are under 40 years.

North East – There are 19,680 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 3% of the UK sector workforce. There are 1,330 creative businesses in the region, of which 90% employ less than 50 people. 38% of the workforce is self-employed. 63% of the workforce is male. 96% of the sector workforce is white and 53% are under 40 years.

North West – There are 59,580 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 9% of the UK sector workforce. There are 5,660 creative businesses in the region, of which 91% employ less than 50 people. 34% of the workforce is self-employed; the majority of who are in arts and music. 62% of the workforce is male. 95% of the sector workforce is white and 55% are under 40 years.

South East – There are 98,170 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 14% of the UK sector workforce. There are 12,300 creative businesses in the region, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 43% of the workforce is self-employed. 59% of the workforce is male. 97% of the sector workforce is white and 47% are under 40 years.

South West – There are 60,690 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 9% of the UK sector workforce. There are approximately 5,000 creative businesses in the region, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 47% of the workforce is self-employed in arts, design and music. 59% of the workforce is male. 98% of the sector workforce is white and 46% are under 40 years.

West Midlands – There are 40,300 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 6% of the UK sector workforce. There are approximately 5,000 creative businesses in the region, of which 91% employ less than 50 people. 31% of the workforce is self-employed, which is the lowest regional figure. 58% of the workforce is male. 91% of the sector workforce is white and 49% are under 40 years.

Yorkshire and the Humber – There are 45,900 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 7% of the UK sector workforce. There are fewer than 4,000 creative businesses in the region, of which 90% employ less than 50 people. 40% of the workforce is self-employed. 60% of the workforce is male. 97% of the sector workforce is white and 53% are under 40 years.


Career paths


Further sources


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