- Karaca Çanta
- 6 min read
Short answer: Sponsor logos are placed on a trade show bag in order of importance: the event name and title sponsor go in the most visible area, and the other sponsors are arranged by tier on the front or back with equal spacing. Converting logos to single-colour versions simplifies the printing. The size of the bag is determined by the catalogue and folder that will go inside it; printing should not begin until the sponsor list is final.
The bag given out at a congress registration desk is one of the objects that stays in hand longest at an event and is photographed most. Because sponsors know this, they ask in advance how their logos will appear on the bag; the organiser, for its part, has to fit many logos onto a limited surface.
In this article we cover the order in which sponsor logos are placed on the bag, how to share the print area, what to base the size on, and common printing mistakes. Our catalogue has 144 products in the trade show bag category; but the real job is to decide from the start which logo goes where and at what size.
In What Order Are Sponsor Logos Placed on a Bag?
A position on the bag is the visible counterpart of a sponsorship package. So start by setting out in writing the sponsor tiers and what each tier is promised in the contract. The title sponsor usually sits right next to the event name, in the largest and most readable area. Main sponsors come second, while supporters and media sponsors are lined up in a shared strip.
Allocating equal space to sponsors in the same tier reduces arguments. However, logos have different proportions: if a wide wordmark and a square emblem are set at the same height, one looks small and the other large. Centring each logo in an equal-sized box and adjusting by visual weight gives a fairer result than levelling them with a ruler.
How Is the Print Area Shared at a Multi-Sponsor Event?
A bag's surface is limited; if you choose two-sided printing, you can use the second face as well. On our product pages, single-colour, two-sided printed models are the most common. If the sponsor logos are multicoloured, bear in mind that the number of colours affects the printing quote. The table below compares four common layouts by number of sponsors.
Layouts by number of sponsors
| Layout | When it suits | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Event name and title sponsor on the front, other sponsors on the back | When there are many sponsors and two-sided printing is used | Giving the logos on the back a common background and a single colour tidies up the crowding. |
| Sponsors in a row on a bottom strip | When there are few or a moderate number of sponsors; with one-sided printing | If the strip gets close to the bottom edge and the gusset, the logos get lost in the fold. |
| Only the title sponsor on the bag, the others in the event booklet | When the surface is small or the bag is dedicated to a single sponsor | The other sponsors' visibility has to be provided through another medium; this decision should be discussed at the outset. |
| Two separate bags by audience (speaker and attendee) | When different groups are to get different contents and looks | It means two separate designs; state the number of designs and the quantity of each separately in your quote. |
How to Find the Right Size for a Conference Bag
For a congress bag, the size is determined by the materials to be given to attendees. If there will be a programme booklet, a badge, a folder and sponsor brochures, take A4 (21 x 29.7 cm) as the basis: if the bag's inner width and height are smaller than that, the folder either will not fit or will have to be folded.
Among the 171 products in our catalogue with a stated size, 50x40, 30x40 and 45x35 cm (width x height) are the most common; this statistic is not an official standard, it merely shows frequently used sizes. If a thick booklet, a cup or a bottle will also be included, a gusseted model adds volume; the most common gusset sizes in our catalogue are 8 and 10 cm.
- The width and height of every material that will go in the bag.
- The thickest material, and the depth of bulky items such as cups and bottles.
- Whether the bag will be carried by hand or on the shoulder; the handle length is chosen accordingly.
- A sample of the largest material you have; making the size decision from the sample is the most reliable approach.
What to Consider in Congress Bag Design
A congress bag is a surface that keeps being carried after the event is over; the design must be readable both at the registration desk and on the street. Instead of trying to put everything on the bag, set a reading order: first the name of the event, then the title sponsor, and the supporters last.
- Check the contrast between the background and the logo; a dark logo on dark fabric disappears.
- Convert sponsor logos to single-colour versions; single-colour screen printing is economical and looks neat.
- Leave empty space around the logos; logos that touch each other read as a single smudge.
- Keep the print away from the handle attachment, the seams and the gusset fold.
- Group the event name and date in a single block, separate from the sponsor strip.
- Choose the fabric according to its service life: stitched nonwoven for a one-day congress, a cotton tote bag if you want it to keep being carried after the event.
Common Mistakes in Trade Show Bag Printing
Most mistakes arise not during printing but during file preparation and approval; they are also hard to correct once printing has begun. The table below summarises the five situations most often encountered with multi-sponsor bags, and the precaution for each.
Common mistakes and how to prevent them
| Mistake | Result | Precaution |
|---|---|---|
| Sending a low-resolution sponsor logo | Edges print jagged and blurry | If possible, ask for a vector PDF or EPS; PNG and JPG files must be high resolution. |
| Changing the sponsor list after printing | Adding or removing a logo on a printed bag is often not possible | Close the list in writing before design approval. |
| Printing all the multicolour logos as they are | The number of colours goes up and the bag looks complicated | Convert the logos to a single-colour or limited-colour version. |
| Placing a logo close to the handle attachment or the gusset fold | When the bag is full, the logo bends or is hidden | Keep the print area in the middle zone and position it with a full bag in mind. |
| Getting sponsor approval verbally | Objections and change requests appear after printing | Get design approval from each sponsor in writing. |
How to Set Up an Order Timeline for Sponsor Logos
Build the timeline backwards from the event date. The latest sponsor logo to arrive determines the whole chain, because after design approval come production and printing, then inspection and shipping. Exact lead times are clarified at the quote stage according to quantity and workload; filling in the requested delivery date field on the quote form makes planning easier.
For example, consider a congress with a title sponsor, two main sponsors and six supporters. Give the sponsors a single deadline for submitting logos, collect all the logos on the same date and merge them in a single draft, and have the draft approved. That way every sponsor sees the same document, and objections are resolved before printing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should All Logos Be the Same Size on a Multi-Sponsor Bag?
No; the logos of sponsors in the same tier should have equal visual weight, while across different tiers the title sponsor takes the largest area. Equal visual weight does not mean the same height: wide wordmarks and square emblems should appear in different sizes but look balanced. Set the tiers according to the sponsorship contract, and let the bag design reflect that decision.
In Which File Format Should I Send a Sponsor Logo?
If possible, send a vector PDF or EPS; PNG, JPG and WebP are also accepted. On the quote form, a logo or design file of up to 5 MB can be uploaded, and the uploaded file can be downloaded only from the authorised administrator panel. We clarify together, at the design and approval stage, whether the file is suitable for printing.
Can a Congress Bag Be Printed on Both Sides?
Yes, two-sided printing is possible; the layout most often seen on our product pages is single-colour, two-sided printing. The two faces are useful for dividing the sponsor logos between them. Because the number of print colours and the number of sides affect the quote, decide on one-sided or two-sided printing together with the quantity and number of sponsors at the quote stage.
How Does a Sponsor Added at the Last Minute Get on the Bag?
Adding a logo to the bag after printing has started is often not possible; so set a closing date for sponsors before design approval. For a sponsor who arrives after that date, visibility outside the bag can be suggested, for example in the programme booklet or on the registration desk board. If you tell us before production starts, whether the design can still be updated is clarified at that stage.
