Choose one function and one recognisable idea
Write a short description of the intended use: holding a small stack of cards, organising a desk item or displaying an approved campaign symbol. Then describe the visual connection to the brand. Keep these two statements separate so the design can change without losing its function. Avoid making every part of a logo into a physical detail simply because it appears in the artwork.
For an agency presenting to a client in Baghdad or Erbil, show why the custom object belongs in this particular campaign. The location can inform the recipient and handover brief; it is not a reason to promise local manufacture or a delivery time that nobody has confirmed.
Compare a custom component with an existing product
A fully custom set is not always necessary. Compare a catalogue notebook or pen with a proposed custom desk piece, and consider whether a branded sleeve or insert could communicate the same idea. This comparison gives the client a useful choice between the role of the custom object and the practical strengths of available products.
Use the studio to organise these as separate options, with a clear caption for the proposed custom element. A concept image explains appearance; it is not a measured CAD design or a manufacturing-ready STL file. The presentation should leave room for the producer to assess and revise the design.
Prepare questions the producer can answer
Ask the prospective producer to recommend the process, material and finish for the actual use. Provide target dimensions, the number of pieces, the intended logo treatment and how the object should sit or attach. Ask which small details need changing, what the sample should demonstrate and how acceptable variation will be agreed. Keep these questions tied to the concept rather than copying specifications from an unrelated object.
Record responsibility for the manufacturing design and its approval. The studio presentation does not establish load capacity, durability, material certification or suitability for a specialist use. If the project depends on a particular performance requirement, obtain an appropriate technical assessment before treating the concept as an approved product.
Use a sample to settle the uncertain parts
Plan a review point for a physical sample where one is needed. Check the intended function, readable branding, finish, handling and packaging together. Decide who approves each aspect and record any change between the first concept and the accepted version. A photograph can support the review but cannot answer every question about how the object feels or works.
Consider a hypothetical campaign proposing 120 sets containing a catalogue notebook and a custom card holder. The team first reviews one proposed form, asks for a sample and checks the combined box layout. These are planning quantities, not an offer. If the custom component remains unpriced, the notebook subtotal must not be presented as the complete set cost.
Build a quotation request with an ordinary alternative
List the selected catalogue references, custom design brief, quantity, sample stage, packaging and requested delivery context. Ask for the complete commercial scope, including any design preparation or setup that the producer identifies. Confirm which drawing or sample becomes the production reference and what happens if it changes. Avoid approving a price detached from the design revision it describes.
Keep a useful catalogue-only alternative in the presentation. That gives the client a second route if the proposed custom item needs more development than the campaign allows. Use Brandkom’s studio to compare the two ideas clearly, save the current project and take the preferred direction to the team for feasibility and quotation confirmation.
Before you move forward
- Give the object one clear recipient use.
- Identify the brand idea without unnecessary detail.
- Label images as concepts and retain catalogue references.
- Ask who prepares and approves the manufacturing design.
- Review the required sample and packaging together.
- Separate confirmed amounts from custom costs still pending.
- Keep a useful alternative for the same campaign.
Common questions
Does the studio create a production-ready 3D print file?
Treat the studio output as a concept and presentation. Manufacturing drawings, CAD or STL preparation, process selection and production approval need a qualified producer’s separate review and agreement.
Can a custom concept be combined with catalogue products?
Yes, it can be proposed as part of the same gift idea. Keep the real catalogue references visible and label the custom component, its dimensions and its price as pending until confirmed.
When should the client approve the final look?
Use an initial concept approval to choose the direction, then a separate approval for the agreed manufacturing reference or sample. If the material, dimensions or finish change, review the effect before production is authorised.
Ready to turn the brief into a shortlist? Explore the catalogue or start a project in Brandkom’s free Gift Design Studio.