ABOUT US

Eric Colee founded Design Display, Inc. in 1980. His custom exhibit shop started in a 2,500 square foot building, and with a three person staff. In 1985, the company took an important step in its continued success and became a distributor for two of the top portable and custom modular display manufacturers - Nimlok Company and Nomadic Displays. This partnership opened new markets, and allowed Design Display to provide faster solutions for clients not seeking a custom built exhibit.
Through the 90s, business continued to grow. By adopting new technology, Design Display greatly expanded its capabilities. In 1998, the company incorporated one of the most advanced printing technologies on the market. The Lightjet 430 digital photographic printer prints images so crisp they appear lifelike. This addition to the graphics department put Design Display at the front of the pack in large format printing.
Today, the company has been in the exhibit business for over thirty years. The 2,500 square foot shop is now a 46,000 square foot facility. The staff includes a talented team of designers, skilled carpenters, and an experienced sales team. Design Display is still family-owned and operated, and is located in Birmingham, AL. It is one of the oldest and largest full service exhibit design firms in the state of Alabama.
We believe that successful exhibit design emerges from a true understanding of our client’s message. Through meaningful research we are to able plan how this message is effectively communicated through physical means. From initial sketches to final construction drawings, we keep the client’s central storyline a part of every decision we make and every material we choose. The final production is a cohesive experience of brand and story that will leave a lasting impression on the visitor.
We believe that "form follows function". We do not allow design to overpower the message or the purpose of the exhibit. In order to stay effective in our communications efforts, we strive for the perfect balance between aesthetics and functionality.
We believe in creating experiences. Not only does technology change everyday, so do people. It is imperative that we stay innovative in our design efforts through the development of new ideas and approaches in how we organize data. To guarantee that the delivery of our client’s message is appealing to the masses, we design a layering of experiences by incorporating different levels of interaction. This keeps a variety of individuals engaged in the exhibit, and therefore, giving them an experience to remember.
Design Display, Inc. has one of the most capable teams in the creative business. Our staff incorporates decades of experience in all areas of the design world, and together, have created some of the most imaginative designs on the market.
Our design team is comprised of a diverse group of creative individuals that offer expertise in a variety of disciplines. From exhibits, to graphics, to computer modeling, our designers are skilled in it all, and create innovative solutions everyday.
Every good design depends on quality fabrication. The builders and finishing specialists at Design Display have a trained eye for detail and execute projects that exhibit superb craftsmanship.
Our team of account executives is composed of experienced visionaries that have years in the creative field. They act as guides, project managers, and mentors for their clients and are successful at making the design process an easy and enjoyable one.
Design Capabilities
- Graphic & 3D Design
- Enviromental graphic design
- Trade show and museum exhibit design
In-House Fabrication & Installation
- Large format graphic production and finishing
- Vinyl graphic production
- Full-service exhibit fabrication shop
- Experienced installation staff
Tradeshow Services
- Exhibit shipping and tracking
- Exhibit installation and dismantling
- Exhibit storage
- Assistance with trade show documents






