Build a language list before designing the gift
List the recipient groups and the wording each group needs. Some projects may use one language, while others need separate Arabic, Kurdish and English versions. Ask the client to specify the requested Kurdish wording and writing convention rather than assuming a generic translation will fit. Decide whether the text belongs on the product, a removable card, the outer packaging or a combination of those surfaces. Each location has a different approval task.
Keep personal names in a separate controlled list. Ask the client how each name should appear, including the preferred spelling in each required language. Do not derive an approved name from an email address or translate a brand name without instruction. Assign one language reviewer for each version and one project owner to collect their decisions. This gives production a clear answer when two reviewers send different corrections.
Approve meaning and artwork as separate steps
First approve the wording in an editable text document. The reviewer should confirm the intended meaning, names, tone and any contact details. Then place that approved text into the actual artwork and review it again. Text that was correct in a document can still be arranged poorly on a small card or curved product. A language approval does not replace checking the final size, line breaks, alignment and the relationship between the message and the logo.
Ask for a proof at the intended output size, with the product or card dimensions stated. Check every character and numeral in the exported file that will actually be used, not only a screenshot of the designer’s screen. If the approved artwork is revised, repeat the affected review. Record which version was approved and by whom. Avoid sending “final”, “final two” and “last final” files without a clear replacement instruction.
Keep common products and language variants easy to pack
Consider a hypothetical order for 120 identical notebook-and-pen sets, divided into 50 Arabic cards, 40 Kurdish cards and 30 English cards. These quantities are an example, not a statement about the language preferences of Erbil recipients. The products can stay common while the message cards vary. The packing list must show 120 complete sets and three distinct card quantities, so a language change does not accidentally change the number of notebooks or pens.
Give each approved card version a clear internal code. Put that code on the packing instruction or carton label, rather than adding unnecessary production marks to the customer-facing design. Keep a sample of each finished version with the approval record. If one recipient changes groups, update both language quantities and the distribution list. Do not simply add a new card version and leave the old count unchanged.
Use the studio to make decisions visible
Brandkom’s free gift design studio can help arrange catalogue products and explain the proposed presentation. Use the project brief to identify the required language versions and the surface intended for each message. Compare product and packaging choices before spending time polishing several versions of the same unapproved idea. A simple card may offer more room for a message than a small product branding area, but confirm the chosen layout with the production team.
Keep the approved wording and final artwork in your normal project approval record. A visual concept or generated mockup is a presentation aid, not the authoritative source for spelling or finished typography. Before requesting production, review the selected catalogue references, quantities, card versions and outstanding costs together. The useful outcome is one understandable handover package that both the language reviewer and the person packing the sets can follow.
Before you move forward
- Confirm the required languages with the actual recipient list.
- Obtain approved spelling for names and brand wording.
- Assign a reviewer and version code to each language.
- Review wording first, then the artwork at output size.
- Check the exported file used for production.
- Reconcile language quantities with complete-set quantities.
- Keep the approved proof and packing instructions together.
Common questions
Must every corporate gift in Erbil show three languages?
No. Choose the languages from the client’s actual audience and communication needs. A single clear message may be more useful than squeezing several versions onto a small product. Separate cards can be considered when several audiences need different wording, but the quantities and packing rules must remain explicit.
Can the same person approve the translation and the design?
Yes, if they can assess both the wording and the final artwork. The important point is to record both checks. If different people review them, give the project owner responsibility for combining their feedback and issuing one approved version instead of forwarding conflicting comments to production.
What should happen when a recipient’s name changes after approval?
Update the controlled name list, the affected artwork and any packing instructions. Identify the exact version being replaced and request confirmation of the change before treating it as accepted. Recheck the revised name in the actual output file; do not assume a corrected message automatically changes an older attachment.
Ready to turn the brief into a shortlist? Explore the catalogue or start a project in Brandkom’s free Gift Design Studio.