The Irony of Business Cards

Lately, I've been honed in on making business cards. It's a must for any professional, in virtually every industry. What I got stuck with when it came to making my own business cards (as a graphic designer) is that I had no idea where to start. So I did some research and got on track. The right business card makes you stand out-giving you more potential clients, and thus, building your repertoire. However, there are three major factors that play into a great business card: design, shape, and texture.

Design is a huge factor, because it needs to promote your work, provide your contact info, and tastefully stand out all at the same time. It is not uncommon for a person to have a graphic designer design their cards, especially if it means that it will make them look more professional.

Shape, also makes your card stand out. Most business cards are 3.5 by 2 inches long, with right-angled corners. What if your business card was thin, had rounded corners, was square, or even round? It could have a unique shape, or a hole punched in the middle. Shape alone would possibly make a client do a double-take, or observe what it had to say.


Texture, what the card feels like, also makes your card stand out. What if it was soft, or even made of plastic-with parts that were see-through? What if it had certain parts that were glossy, or had a metallic background? A business card that has a unique "feel" as you hand it out to a potential client will help make a good impression.

I found quite recently (today actually) a really cheap printer with a great selection. They're www.nextdayflyers.com and compared to a lot of business card websites I've been browsing through lately, they seem to know what they're doing, and have some really good prices. If you're looking for some inspiration for a great business card design, you can find it here, here, or here.

A MUST for graphic designers-the Dot Grid Cahier

I stumbled upon this on Behance Outfitter-Dot Grid Cahier-and it's a graphic designer's dream notebook. Instead of using lines, it uses dots. You use them to make the grid and notes, in a neat, effective manner-all for a cheap price too!

"The Dot Grid Cahier is the perfect back pocket companion. The pages are made of 60lb New Leaf paper (100% recycled), printed full bleed, and perforated for maximum flexibility. New Leaf Paper was founded to inspire a fundamental shift towards sustainability in the paper industry. By choosing this notebook, you are making a difference."

Artist of the week: Srdjan Kirtic

Sometimes it can be frustrating when approached with the task of creating a logo. So many factors contribute to a successful logo-negative space, simplicity, color, and the statement you're trying to make-to name a few. However, what happens when you approach graphic design as if it were a muscle? Exercising it, using your knowledge to create something on a frequent basis-is exactly Srdjan Kirtic did. With his 365 Logo project, he chose to make a new logo every day. The result? Well, see for yourself.