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.