I’ve got a confession to make. Of all the pieces that make up an identity package, my favorite by FAR is the business card. Why? The sheer flexibility it offers. There are NO limitations to what you can DESIGN with a business card. Any style, any shape, any color, and outlandish thing you can imagine can actually WORK as a business card.

There is no other single design piece I’ve found that offer’s so much flexibility. We’ve talked before about fake finishes design tricks and cheap ways to make a big difference, but let’s look at some ideas that you can use to display your text.

Text. We know that a business card HAS to contain information, and more often than not, it has to contain LOTS of information. Information that is ESSENTIAL to a strong business card. This alone, may sound like an overwhelming task, but what it REALLY is, is an overwhelming opportunity to do something great.

Let’s look at some inspiration for just such an occassion:

Orientation. Dare to be different. Change the orientation of your business card from horizontal to vertical. And don’t forget the front AND the back.

Right Alignment. Contact information right aligned is probably the most common of ANY alignment style for a business card. However, you can still pull it off with class:

Left Align. While the alignment may be common, this design is anything but. When you “create” a business card every detail is important.

Diagonal. These cards show a different kind of alignment– go DIAGONAL. Arrange the content and the text in such a way that it creates a design itself.

For more inspirational business cards visit Daily Poetics Flickr stream.

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Usually, on this blog I showcase others work, but today I thought I’d share some recent business cards I had the opportunity to design. As always feedback is more than welcome!

Enjoy!

Splinters

SliceOThePie.com

Collipsis Web Solutions

Southern Ladies Showcases

Paige1Media

Jeff Bardel

Life Triumphant Church

ECommerce For Beginners

Paige1Publishing

Graphic Illustrator

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It’s true. The world as we know it is struggling financially. And while it may seem that everyone around you is tightening their belt and closing their doors, keep in mind that good design does NOT have to suffer just because you’re client’s budget might.

What can you do to continue your standards of superior design on a tight budget?

1. Faux finishes. If you can’t afford it, fake it. Finishes that is. I recently attended an excellent print show in Tulsa, put on by CP Solutions. There were several paper vendors there with many exciting papers and finishing options that had all us designers ‘oohing’ and ‘aaahing’. But what if you’re client cant’ AFFORD a clear varnish or laminate finish?

Try this– adding a simple layer of partial opacity can make a dark design shine with extra sheen creating the illusion of a varnish or laminate.

2. Cut it out. Wanna create an awesome die cut effect without the cut? Try placing the design on a dark background (preferably black) when viewed at a distance in dark card holder the card will JUMP off the table and trick the viewer with the illusion of being die cut.

3. Simple arrangements. Nothing screams “CLASS” like something simple. Sleek. Elegant. On your next card project, convince the client to go with the “less is more” approach. The card will look sophisticated and expensive without the extra price.

Got some special design tricks of your own? I’d love to hear them!

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Sometimes it seems that as designers we are asked to do the impossible. Recently I had this experience with a client. While designing their business card the client kept thinking of things they wanted to add. A logo. Title. Name. Phone Number. Email. Address. PO Box. Another photo. OH! And only a one-sided card!

I squeezed and rearranged. I struggled and brainstormed. But in the end? The business card turned out very well and I was glad that I had one more card to add to my portfolio.

Never write off a client’s demands as an impossible task. Attack it! Conquer and you may just be pleased with the result. Let’s have a few more miracle working designers out there!

Wanna see some of MY business cards? The card I’m referring to is somewhere on this page! Happy hunting!

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One of the hardest things we deal with as Designers is continually opening ourselves up for rejection. Every time we design something we pour a little part of ourselves into it. Is there a way to avoid that? Not if your truly passionate about what you do.

At the same time, it’s important that we don’t allow the rejection and criticisms of our work to alter our self-confidence. Sometimes one of the most difficult things we encounter is the “finger-pointing” that often goes along with design.

I recently ran into a similar instance while working on a project for a friend. They had an idea of what they wanted. I rushed home, designed the piece, excited to send it to them. It was disheartening to say the least. While they had something else in mind I had designed exactly what they directed me to the best of my ability.

Many times, “lack of communication” is the main cause for rejected work. In this case, I was shocked to find that what I had done was not apparently what they had in mind. Even worse, occasionally your client may refuse to “work through” a piece with you, instead wanting to turn to another designer or halt production. My best advice? Let them go. You’ll be much happier in the long run. There are good clients out there, don’t settle for any that mistreat you.

However, a lack of “designer trust” also can play a key role. As an employer if you want the best for your marketing, design and promotions, then you need to trust your designer.

If they were good enough to hire, then let them do their job. So MANY times, I’ve seen good design completely re-worked and re-created based on the “client’s” wishes. While this is definitely their perrogative it’s no small surprise when those pieces turn out sub-par. The worst of these situations is when the client literally takes it upon themselves to select a stock graphic for their piece.

When that happens, I generally know the piece will NOT be making it to my portfolio. While it’s sad to see, it also happens to the best of us and we must not let it wear us down. Remember that YOU are equipped to do your job, regardless of what your boss or your client may think. When you do that, your designs will reflect your confidence.

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As promised here are some of the other excellent pieces that were recently entered in the In Search of Design Student Identity Competition. Every piece is unique and inspiring. While some pieces "speak" more clearly than others, it’s important to really understand each piece’s purpose. That very thing will be our next series of topics. What is the purpose? 

Here are some of the winners in the individual categories!

Yakez Wilson

Bethany Shearer

Betsy Baehrer

Elizabeth Fouke

Faith Dunbar

Julie Snowden

Faith Dunbar

Ryan Johanningmeir

Kristin Threadgill

Natalie Sullivan

Ramond Walker

Rachel McGoldrick

Ramond Walker

Sarah Blodgett

Sherman Merchant

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I’m seeing more and more of a trend of businesses moving to special plastic business cards. They look and function just like a normal card, but are printed on a clear or often frosted piece of plastic, similar to those found as ID badges today.

The object of the plastic card? Well, besides being cooler than those made of paper, is it also less likely to be thrown away?  Many think it’s worth the investment. The non-disposable business cards, can easily double as a bookmark in your favorite novel, or perhaps a coaster?
 

I love the idea and the cards are definitely cool, check out these samples. The hand behind the card is holding it.

You’ll notice that the last one, though plastic, is not clear or translucent. Does that defeat the purpose of a plastic card? What’s your favorite?

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The business card is one of the best pieces to use to break outside of the proverbial box. Unfortunately when you get out of the box it’s easy to also get out of the budget. How do you reach that happy medium?

Start where you are. If your client can only afford a single sided card with square edges, try a graphic treatment that will be remembered. Cant the words to one side, try leaving most of the card white. Only include the extremely necessary information. Add stripes or light lines to simulate the ridges of an expensive paper.

Low budget doesn’t have to mean poor quality. It simply means you have to be more creative.

To get your creative juices flowing, I’m gonna include some cool business cards I love that came from the Flikr Business Card pool.

Use your name creatively. Notice this card would not be outside the scope of a small budget 

Film Studio?

Go retro. This card has a definite touch of class. Notice the die cut.

If you have somebody to assemble, something like this can be done fairly low-cost as well.

If the camera breaks, he’s ready!

Get a little forensic evidence with the card for a hair stylist.

Dog tags for a Greyhound adoption agency. ‘Nuff said.

Card is inside. Awesome idea.

Leave something with your client’s they can enjoy!

Hope these are inspiring to you! I’ll post some more later!

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You have your logo.  Now what?  To complete what is referred to an your identity package you will need a  business card, your envelopes and letterhead.  These 3 elements are often your first “touch” to a client.
 

As a whole, they support your logo & define your “style”. Individually, each piece plays a different role and serves a different purpose.  Putting these three elements together will tell your customers who you are, and what you hope to accomplish with their business.

How does it do this? You’re identity packages sets the standard for the branding of your business. Without you are undefined. With it you are recognized, celebrated and can maintain a loyal customer base.

I will be dedicating separate posts to each piece: Business Card, Envelopes & Letterhead.
 

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