Muhammad Yameen Mustafavi attended the 20th International Paper and Tissue Asia Exhibition at Lahore Expo Centre with Waleed Ahmad. The Design PK team went to Paper and Tissue Asia 2026 as visitors, not exhibitors — there to learn, to see where the paper and tissue industry is moving, and to bring back ideas that make the agency’s print and branding work better.
Why a design agency visits a paper and tissue exhibition
Design does not end on the screen. A brochure, a company profile or a calendar only works when the paper, board and finish are right — and those choices start with knowing what materials exist and what they can do.
An exhibition like this brings that material world into one hall. For an agency that designs print pieces and brand identities, the visit is research: it connects the creative side of the work with the production side that clients depend on.
Walking the stalls and exploring new ideas
The team visited the stalls of many companies taking part in the show, looking at paper and tissue products and the printing and packaging work built around them. Seeing materials up close — their weight, texture and finish — is very different from choosing from a screen or a catalogue.
The visit was informative and full of new ideas from the paper and tissue industry. It came during the same expo week as the 20th International Exhibition and Conference at the same venue, which made the trip doubly useful.
Early conversations about future collaboration
Along the way, the team held initial conversations with companies about working together in the future. These were first introductions, not agreements — a chance to understand who is doing interesting work in the industry, and where The Design PK’s design services might one day fit alongside it.
Some of the most useful business relationships start exactly this way: a short conversation at a stall, an exchange of ideas, and a connection that can be picked up later, when the right project arrives.
Meeting the Expo organisers
The visit also included meeting the Expo organisers. Talking with the team behind the event gave a clearer picture of the exhibition itself — the scale of industry participation on show, and what future editions may hold for exhibitors and visitors alike.
For a first visit as attendees, that context matters. It helps the agency judge where events like this can create opportunities for its clients in the print and packaging space.
What this means for our clients
Trips like this feed directly back into client work. Better knowledge of paper stocks, finishes and local production options means more realistic print specifications, fewer surprises at production time, and brand and print design that is planned around real materials from the start.
If you are planning a brochure, company profile, calendar or any other printed piece, and want it designed with production in mind, talk to our team.
Every entrepreneur should attend such exhibitions. They are one of the simplest ways to stay updated with the industry and to keep new ideas coming.