Exhibition branding
What is exhibition branding?
Exhibition branding goes way beyond slapping a logo on a poster.
It’s the complete visual identity that brings an exhibition to life—from the first promotional image someone sees online to the catalog they take home as a keepsake. It’s how your exhibition looks, feels, and communicates its message across every touchpoint.
For museums and galleries, exhibition branding creates cohesive visual experiences that enhance the artwork. For individual artists, it builds professional credibility and makes shows memorable. For art fairs and cultural events, it establishes visual systems that guide visitors and create lasting impressions.
Good exhibition branding doesn’t compete with the art—it creates the visual framework that helps the art shine.
What is the role of a designer?
What makes high-quality exhibition branding?
Beyond flawless technical execution, exhibition branding must successfully convey the curator’s vision while letting the artwork breathe.
While stunning visuals catch the eye first, understanding typography carries enormous weight in exhibition materials. The right typeface can signal whether you’re viewing contemporary art or historical artifacts before you even read the words. Color choices and spatial hierarchy guide visitors through complex narratives without them realizing they’re being led.
Of course, exhibition branding should be aesthetically compelling while fulfilling the institution’s goals, the curator’s vision, and the artist’s expectations.
Understanding the exhibition context is crucial:
Where will the materials live?
Will this be a massive banner outside the museum or an intimate catalog essay? Will it be shared on Instagram stories or printed in art journals?
What response do you want to evoke?
Should visitors feel the weight of historical significance? The excitement of discovering emerging artists? The contemplative mood of conceptual work?
Who is your target audience?
Are you speaking to seasoned collectors, art students, families on a Sunday outing, or international curators?
These are just some factors that contribute to successful exhibition branding.
In essence, quality exhibition branding harmoniously presents information in a way that’s simultaneously clear, legible, aesthetically refined, and—most importantly—amplifies the exhibition’s core message without competing with the art itself.
Our exhibition branding services
You’re organizing an exhibition. You need a catalog, posters, invitations, social media graphics, and probably a dozen other things you haven’t thought of yet.
You could hunt down five different designers and coordinate between all of them. Or you could work with someone who actually understands how all these pieces fit together—because we’ve curated exhibitions ourselves and designed the materials for them.
We’re not just graphic designers. We’re art historians who know design. We understand the difference between designing for a contemporary art show versus a historical exhibition. We know what visitors look for in a catalog and what makes an effective exhibition poster.
Here’s what we offer:
Brand identity development
Every exhibition needs a visual identity. Some need an entire brand system.
For ongoing exhibition series, art fairs, or gallery programs, we develop complete brand identities—logo systems, color palettes, typography guidelines, and templates you can use across multiple shows.
For individual exhibitions, we create cohesive visual identities that work across all materials while letting the art take center stage.
Poster and promotional material design
Your exhibition poster has one job: make people want to see the show.
We design posters that capture attention whether they’re on a gallery wall, a city billboard, or someone’s Instagram feed. Clean layouts that let the artwork breathe. Typography that’s readable from across the street. Colors that work in both print and digital formats.
We also create matching promotional materials—invitations, flyers, banners, and whatever else you need to get people through the door.
Exhibition catalog design and print preparation
Exhibition catalogs are more than pretty picture books. They’re documentation, scholarship, and marketing all rolled into one.
We design catalogs that work as standalone publications—clear typography, thoughtful image placement, proper citation formatting, and complete print preparation so your printer doesn’t call you with questions.
From small 20-page booklets to comprehensive 200-page monographs, we handle layout, image editing, color correction, and file preparation for professional printing.
Social media graphics and templates
Social media is how most people discover exhibitions these days. Your Instagram grid better look good.
We create social media graphics that actually get shared—exhibition announcements, artist quotes, behind-the-scenes content, countdowns, and anything else that helps build anticipation. We can also create templates so your team can make consistent graphics in-house.
Marketing and advertising materials
Getting people to your exhibition means reaching them where they actually are—online, in print, and everywhere in between.
We design digital ads, social media graphics, email newsletters, press releases, and print advertisements. Everything is designed to work together, so your exhibition looks professional and polished across every platform.
Exhibition signage and wayfinding
People shouldn’t need a map to find the bathroom. Or the actual art.
For larger exhibitions, we design signage systems—wall texts, section headers, directional signs, and other wayfinding elements that help visitors navigate the space without getting lost or missing important works.
Print preparation and production guidance
The gap between “looks good on screen” and “looks good on paper” is where a lot of exhibitions go wrong.
We prepare all files for professional printing with proper color profiles, bleed, trim marks, and technical specifications. We can also provide guidance on paper selection, binding options, and printing methods to get the best results within your budget.
Graphic design price list
The listed prices may vary depending on the complexity of the project, especially in the case of larger, more demanding projects such as book or magazine designs, as well as logo design. For a consultation or an exact quote, it is best to contact DLightful Services directly via the website’s contact form.
Also, the listed services are only some of the graphic design services that DLightful Services can offer. The list does not include, for example, adjusting already existing designs, designing PowerPoint presentations, visually editing Word documents, or branding Excel sheets to fit your business’s stye, and other similar services.
From €400
Included: a simpler logo design with up to 2 solutions and up to 2 revisions of the version you choose. You can expect to receive your logo in both color and black and white, as well as in a vector and raster format. More complex designs, more revisions, and more time devoted to the project will entail a higher price.
Varying price depending on the complexity of the project.
Included: graphic design and preparation for printing; page setup; page layouts; font formatting and text processing; page numbering; page template designs; manual spacing, font, and glyph checks; up to 2 rounds of revisions.
More complex designs, more revisions, and more time devoted to the project will entail a higher price. The price can differ depending on the number of pages.
Varying price depending on the complexity of the project.
Includes exhibition catalogs.
Included: graphic design and preparation for printing; page setup; page layouts; font formatting and text processing; page numbering; page template designs; manual spacing, font, and glyph checks; 1 round of revisions.
More complex designs, more revisions, and more time devoted to the project will entail a higher price. The price can differ depending on the number of pages.
One-sided: from €40
Two-sided: from €60 *
Included: 2 graphic design solutions and a free consultation on what type of paper and printing technique to choose. More complex designs, more revisions, and more time devoted to the project will entail a higher price.
*The price refers to the design of one business card. The price will vary for larger quantities of business cards (e.g. when designing them for several employees of a firm). If this is the case, feel free to ask for a quote.
Included: flyer designs that will place special emphasis on the esthetic aspect of the design. More complex designs, more revisions, and more time devoted to the project will entail a higher price.
Included: the design and implementation of your branding, up to 2 rounds of revisions. More complex designs, more revisions, and more time devoted to the project will entail a higher price.
If revisions are not included in the price by default or if you have reached the number of revisions that are included in the original price.
€20
If you’re in need of a bit of advice regarding your graphic design solution and aren’t yet completely sure if you’d like to invest in DLightful’s graphic design services. The consultation can be done via a video call or in written form. I will invest 30 minutes of my time to give you some thoughts and ideas of how to approach your design.
We can design almost anything you need. Feel free to reach out for a quote if you don’t see what you need on this list.
Why DLightful Services stands out
Most graphic designers don’t know much about curating exhibitions. Most people in the arts and culture sector aren’t graphic designers.
We’re both.
We combine art historical knowledge, design skills, and practical exhibition experience into solutions that actually work for museums, galleries, and artists.
Here’s what makes us different:
Client testimonials
Very professional approach! They are well organized and know their job!
DLightful Services does art management for me, I am very satisfied and I think this is my best investment! Since I have been working with them, I have more time to work in the studio.
Working with Dora, Dlightful Services, for my photography exhibition in Zagreb was an absolute pleasure. From the very beginning, her professionalism and dedication stood out. She was incredibly quick to respond to any inquiries, which made communication smooth and stress-free throughout the entire process. :))
What truly impressed me was her attention to detail, and the way she curated the flow of the exhibition brought out the best in my work. She took the time to understand my vision and executed it flawlessly, enhancing the overall narrative of the collection.
The curatorial text she provided was another standout aspect. It was beautifully written, insightful, and perfectly captured the essence of my work. Her ability to articulate the deeper themes is something really impressive.
Dora went above and beyond to ensure every element of the exhibition—from the layout to the text—was perfect.
If you are looking for a curator who is not only professional but also genuinely passionate about their work, I cannot recommend Dora enough. Thank you.:)
As an artist, I have worked with Dora Derado who was my curator for a couple of exhibition projects. I have experienced her as attentive to all the details, very punctual, proactive, and organised.
I found Dora’s writing style in Croatian and English academic, informed, scientific, but underlined by her personal intuition and feminine warmth that embraced the artworks and my story; I felt understood, and well and sensitivity represented.
I worked with Dora Derado for a few months in 2019 and 2020. She was tasked with translating over a hundred pages of literary text into English. My criteria, when it comes to translating, were quite high and I expected the translation to be in the spirit of the English language, which is where Dora demonstrated great knowledge and flexibility. Our communication was great, and the translations were typically accepted after a few iterations and revisions. Dora is very professional and always stuck to the deadlines we agreed on. Working with her was a pleasure and I can happily recommend her because of her excellent knowledge of the English language, her detail-oriented character, professionality, flexibility, and wonderful communication skills.
I recently had the pleasure of working with DLightful Services, owned by the incredibly talented Dora Derado Giljanovic, to promote my online Business English teaching and my first book. I am truly amazed by the wide range and depth of Dora’s knowledge in various areas such as web design, graphic design, SEO, social media, and project management, to name a few.
Dora’s expertise is complemented by her impeccable organization, professionalism, attention to detail, and remarkable efficiency. Her young team mirrors her dedication and drive, making the entire experience seamless and enjoyable. I am absolutely delighted with the results and the process.
If I could give Dora and her team a 10-star review, I would, but I’ll gladly settle for giving them a glowing 5-star recommendation. For anyone in need of top-notch marketing services, look no further than DLightful Services. You will be delighted with the results!
I would recommend DLightful’s translation services to everyone. Apart from the fact that Dora Derado is a great and experienced translator, English is her mother tongue. Her being an art historian contributed to the quality of the professional translation of a text which was to be included in my dissertation in the field of contemporary art. Our communication was pleasant, quick, and easy. I’ll definitely turn to her for future translation needs.
I wholeheartedly recommend Dora Derado Giljanović for anyone seeking an exceptional graphic design experience. Working with her on our recent project was an absolute pleasure. Dora seamlessly combined creativity with technical expertise, delivering a document that not only met but exceeded my expectations. Her attention to detail, responsiveness, and innovative approach make her a standout professional in the field. I am confident that anyone choosing Dora and DLightful Services will be delighted (no pun intended!) with the results and the enjoyable collaboration experience.
I worked with Dora on preparing my exhibition “Zavičaj kao vrelo nadahnuća” organized by the Meštrović Gallery in Split. Dora did a great job in creating the complete and coherent graphic design of the exhibition that expresses the spirit of the topic, which is folklore and tradition. It was very pleasant to work with her as she is very detail-oriented and punctual, and she met the deadline with no problem. What I liked the most was that she was very patient and respected my ideas and visions from the start until the end of our collaboration. She has a very humanistic approach to work and collaboration. Highly recommend! :)
The Association of Artists has employed Dora Derado several times to curate exhibitions and translate specialized texts. We were impressed every time by the work ethic of this versatile professional who is both creative and systematic, efficient and relaxed, as well as detail-oriented and comprehensive in her approach to work, regardless of whether she’s working on large group exhibitions that she conceptualized, judged, and curated; solo exhibitions of eminent artists or young, unaffirmed artists; translating complex texts or simple, pedagogically-designed informative pieces. Either way, she is a collaborator to wish for.
I’ve worked with Dora on several different projects and have had the chance to follow her professional growth over the several years that we’ve known each other. With regards to her work ethic, I can only say that she is extremely professional and talented and that I can completely relax when we’re working together because I know that everything will be done on time and per our agreement. Behind the façade of professionality is a really wonderful person that’s easy to talk to and in whose presence I like to be, who I like to exchange opinions with and consult. I’d recommend working with Dora to everyone because she truly is professional and motivated when it comes to the work she does.
Rugby Club Nada Split and Dora Derado began their collaboration in 2013. In its efforts to take a solid step forward in its visual appearance, the Club employed Ms. Derado to create various visual designs such as posters, tickets, booklets, and seasonal greeting cards. Dora’s precision, reliability, professionality, and imaginativeness add a whole new dimension to the Club which, through its work, aims to keep up with the current times in which recognizability plays a key role in one’s marketing activity.
Given the short deadlines we had, I was very happy when Dora agreed to proofread a professional text in English in the field of smart cities. She did the proofreading thoroughly and very professionally, and with a few specific questions, she immediately detected what kind of result we wanted. In every interaction, she was quick to respond and pleasant to communicate with. She met all the deadlines, and we are very satisfied with the final result, considering that she significantly improved the quality of the text written by different authors. We will recommend Dora and work with her again in the future.
As a foreigner, I had a complex immigration issue that required a translator. Dora met with me and took the time to fully understand my situation. When it came time to meet with the authorities, she wasn’t just a translator, she was also my advocate. She understands the local customs and culture and without her translating and assisting me through the process, I’m convinced things would have turned out badly for me. She is highly professional and personable. I was very lucky to have found her.
I met Dora a few years ago when I needed help while I was in Split for a research project. I needed an interpreter and at the same time a capable organizer who knows how to deal with people and knows the local environment. Her approach was extremely professional and precise. I could not have completed the project without her help, and I am still grateful to her.
We had the opportunity to work with Dora and her business DLightful Services at several exhibitions, and the experience was extremely positive. As a curator, Dora demonstrated a high level of professionalism, expertise and creativity. We especially appreciate her collaboration with artists, where she presented their work with great attention and understanding.
In addition to curatorial work, Dora helped us improve the quality of our website.
We recommend DLightful Services to anyone looking for expertise, commitment, creativity and a professional approach.
Dora Derado Giljanović performed the proofreading of an English-language academic book edited by me. Although the challenge was immense – the book contained texts by non-native-speaking authors from different countries and from a variety of academic traditions, Dora and her team managed brilliantly. Their thoroughness and commitment cannot be overstated. Dora dealt with each text with great insight, both from a linguistic and academic point of view. She caught many errors that would have escaped my attention! In addition, she kept up a pleasant correspondence with the authors, which helped to bring the whole six-month project to a happy conclusion. I would highly recommend working with Dora on proofreading, especially to anyone dealing with art and related subjects.
We had a wonderful experience collaborating with DLightful Services, who designed the tourist map of Sutivan. Their professionalism and meticulous attention to detail were exceptional, resulting in an outcome that exceeded our expectations. The DLightful Services team went the extra mile to ensure that visitors exploring Sutivan have an engaging and user-friendly experience. Their dedication and efforts were truly outstanding, and communicating with them was simple and quick.
I highly recommend her to everyone, and I’m sure we’ll continue collaborating on future projects.
Why choose DLightful Services for your exhibition branding?
Because we deliver design that understands both art and audiences.
Our interdisciplinary approach means you get materials that look professional, communicate clearly, and actually enhance the exhibition experience rather than just existing alongside it.
Whether you’re a museum planning a major retrospective, a gallery launching a new show, an artist preparing your first solo exhibition, or an art fair building your visual identity, we provide the exhibition branding that helps your work reach its audience.
Who we are
Our team combines art historians, designers, and curators who have actual experience organizing exhibitions—not just designing for them.
We have advanced degrees in art history, years of curatorial practice, and the design skills to create materials that meet professional standards. We’ve been in your shoes, which means we understand your challenges and your deadlines.
Check out our portfolio of exhibition branding work and our full team information.
FAQs
Graphic design is a creative practice of visual communication that utilizes typography, imagery, color, and layout to convey ideas or messages. It involves creating visual content for various mediums such as print or digital platforms.
A graphic designer is responsible for creating visual concepts to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, or captivate consumers. They design visual layouts and execute production for various applications such as publications, websites, or packaging, mostly using graphic design software.
The cost of graphic design services can vary depending on factors such as the complexity of the project, the level of expertise required, and the geographic location of the designer. Typically, graphic designers may charge on an hourly basis, a flat project fee, or based on a retainer agreement for ongoing work.
Graphic design serves several functions, including enhancing the visual appeal of products or services, conveying information effectively, shaping recognizable brand identities, and influencing consumer behavior. It plays a crucial role in affecting a consumer’s perception of a certain product and their interaction with it.
Graphic designers can create a wide range of visual content, including logo design, branding materials, business cards, flyers, posters, packaging, websites, social media graphics, infographics, and illustrations. They can create visually compelling designs tailored to meet the specific needs and objectives of their clients.
Exhibition branding is the complete visual identity system for an exhibition or cultural event. It includes everything from logos and color schemes to catalogs, posters, signage, and digital materials—all designed to create a cohesive visual experience that enhances the artwork and guides visitors.
Exhibition branding requires understanding both design principles and the specific needs of arts and culture contexts. It means knowing how to design around artwork without competing with it, understanding curatorial concepts well enough to translate them visually, formatting academic citations correctly, and preparing materials that work in both museum spaces and digital platforms. Most general graphic designers lack this specialized knowledge.
Not necessarily. A single exhibition needs a cohesive visual identity (consistent colors, fonts, and design approach across all materials), but it doesn’t always need a full brand system with logos and guidelines. However, if you’re running an exhibition series, art fair, or gallery program, a complete brand identity makes each individual show easier to design and helps build recognition over time.
Our catalog design includes complete layout and typography, image placement and editing, color correction for accurate reproduction, text formatting with proper academic citations, cover design, spine design, table of contents and indexes, print file preparation with bleed and trim marks, and guidance on paper selection and binding options. Basically, everything you need to hand to a printer and get professional results.
Timeline depends on project scope. A simple poster might take 1-2 weeks. A complete exhibition branding package with catalog, posters, and promotional materials typically takes 6-8 weeks. Large exhibition catalogs with extensive content can take 8-12 weeks. We understand exhibition deadlines are firm, so we work backwards from your opening date to ensure everything’s ready on time.
Yes. We provide specialized translation services for art and culture content in English and Croatian. Our translators have deep experience in art history and humanities, so exhibition texts, catalog essays, and artist statements maintain their meaning and nuance across languages. This means you get both professional design and accurate translation from one team.
We deliver print-ready PDF files with proper color profiles, bleed and trim marks, embedded fonts, and high-resolution images. All files meet professional printing standards, so your printer won’t have technical issues.
Exhibition branding costs vary significantly based on project scope and complexity. A simple poster design starts around €150-200. Exhibition catalogs range from €800 for small booklets to €3,000+ for comprehensive publications. Complete branding packages for major exhibitions typically range from €2,000-6,000. Contact us with your specific needs for an accurate quote tailored to your project and budget.