Start with the packing requirement
Measure the largest intended contents and check the usable interior rather than relying only on the bag’s headline size. Allow for the way items sit together, especially when packaging adds bulk. Decide whether the bag needs to hold one flat document or a mixed collection of objects. If it will serve as the main presentation package, review how the contents look when a recipient first opens it.
Check the handles with the bag filled as intended. Ask how it is meant to be carried and confirm any stated load guidance for the selected product. Avoid adding a weight claim based on fabric appearance alone. Inspect a sample’s seams, opening and finish, and record concerns clearly enough that the supplier can respond to the specific issue rather than a general impression of quality.
Give the artwork room to work
Position the logo or message away from areas where folds, seams or handles interrupt the intended reading. Review both the flat artwork and the filled bag. A design can look centred on an empty product but appear different once the contents change its shape. Ask for the available print area for the exact model and confirm the proposed method before committing to a detailed design.
If the bag will remain in use after the event, consider whether a date-heavy message belongs on a removable card instead. Keep important text readable at a practical viewing distance. A large surface does not require a large amount of copy. Let the design suit the bag’s function and the campaign rather than treating every available area as space that must be filled.
Worked hypothetical example: an exhibition welcome pack
Imagine a welcome pack containing a notebook, a folded programme and a small boxed item. This is a hypothetical planning example, not a quotation. The team tests two bag formats using those actual contents. One looks larger in the catalogue but holds the box awkwardly; the other accommodates the arrangement more comfortably. The packing test, not the empty photograph, determines the shortlist.
Prepare a packing sequence and a final count for the distribution team. Confirm whether bags arrive separately from the contents or as assembled packs. Keep care information and any substantiated material claims consistent with the supplier’s documentation. Do not describe a bag as environmentally preferable simply because it has a fabric appearance or is intended for repeated use.
Examples from the Brandkom catalogue
- APO BAG short-handle shopper (MO8959) Put the actual brochures and samples inside, then ask someone to carry the bag around the stand.
- CARRIE foldable shopping bag (MO2486) Compare the space it takes up at the handout desk with the space needed when it is open and filled.
Before you move forward
- List and measure the contents before selecting a bag.
- Test handle comfort with a realistic filled sample.
- Inspect seams, opening and the usable internal space.
- Review artwork on both the flat and filled bag.
- Confirm assembly responsibilities and supported material statements.
Common questions
Is a larger tote always more useful?
No. Extra size can make a lightly filled bag cumbersome and can change how the artwork appears. Choose the dimensions for the intended contents and likely later use. Test the complete pack rather than treating capacity as the only criterion.
Can the same bag design serve different events?
Often it can if the permanent design remains relevant. Put event-specific information on a separate insert when appropriate. Before reordering, confirm the product reference, material, dimensions and print treatment instead of assuming that a similar-looking bag is identical.
Ready to turn the brief into a shortlist? Explore the catalogue or start a project in Brandkom’s free Gift Design Studio.