Business cards can be printed for peanuts now-a-days, 1000 cards can be picked up for a few hours worth of wages for an average Joe. Like everything though, you get what you pay for. Single sided cards on cheap, un-coated stock is probably all you can expect for a handful of dollars.

Spending a little extra really does go a long way when it comes to business cards. Better stocks, matte or gloss coated, simple die-cuts and even some more unusual substrates can all be used without spending a fortune.

I think it’s fair to say that most individuals or small-medium businesses take many months, if not years to hand out a thousand business cards, and if you’re going through them faster than this it can only mean business is good, right?

When looked at in this context, a extra few hundred dollars out of your pocket won’t be noticed, the improvement to your business cards however, definitely will. You’re already spending good money on the design, you might as well get the most out of it.

Go on…

Spend a little extra, you’ll be much happier with the results.

• Thinking outside the box – Business card shapes and sizes (0)
• Portrait business cards, what do you think? (15)
• A pocket full of business cards (4)
• Business cards good enough to eat (5)

Spend a little extra on your business cards

In my travels I always make sure to keep an eye out for interesting business card designs, and pick up a few wherever possible to add to the inspiration pile. Included here are a handful of recent additions that caught my eye.

Butchers Grill, meat and wine cellar.

My new favourite local restaurant. Windows on the Bay, grill & bar.

The effect of Cream Film’s business card is somewhat lost on-screen I’m afraid, the gold foil stamping on un-coated black stock looks great in the flesh.

Boncor, pharmacies and health food stores.

Rembroza, restaurant and bar.

Sette Bello, another local restaurant.

How about you?

Picked up any interesting cards lately?

• Portrait business cards, what do you think? (15)
• Clever die cut & embossed business card designs (0)
• Large format business cards (2)
• Thinking outside the box – Business card shapes and sizes (0)

A pocket full of business cards

If there two things every graphic designer has done, one is scribble out an idea before scrunching it into a ball so tight that it will never see the light of day again, and the other is having spent an entire day or more stuck firmly to their chair.

With this notepad from Trapped In Suburbia, you can shoot some hoops or toss the football around and get a pinch of exercise while disposing of your dud ideas.

Sporty.

It’s almost a shame you have to scrunch them up and chuck them out.

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The play more more more notepad – Turn scrap paper into sport

Ninety-nine times out of a hundred that you’re given a business card, chances are that its the standard 90mm x 55m size. Into the rollerdex it goes to be skimmed over and forgotten like all the rest.

There are alternatives however. An extra trim or a simple die-cut can make a card stand out and doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Starting with a piping hot card of coffee, here are a few alternatives to consider.

Completely round cards.

One or more round corners costs only a few dollars extra.

You could even lose a corner or two completely.

Square cards.

Last but not least, my own business card design, still a rectangle but cut to a sleek 90mm x 45mm high.

What about you?

Did you do anything different with your business cards? Maybe the next batch?

• Spend a little extra on your business cards (2)
• Portrait business cards, what do you think? (15)
• Personal business card design (2)
• Clever die cut & embossed business card designs (0)

Thinking outside the box – Business card shapes and sizes

The boss walked in on you reading a headhunters business card? No problem! Just eat the evidence.

I love peanuts, just don’t ask me how you print on one.

I must not let my girlfriend see these, I’ll end up ordering them only to have all my cards mysterious disappear.

Your sugar fix for the day, cookie cards.

Yum yum.

Seen any other tasty business cards?

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• Thinking outside the box – Business card shapes and sizes (0)
• Large format business cards (2)

Business cards good enough to eat

This is a “business card” by PacBlue Printing delivered to advertising agencies to promote their large format printing capabilities.

Very Clever.

Probably a touch to big to carry a stack around with you, at least their clients will never lose the card.

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Large format business cards

Portrait business cards are definitely less common (in my experience) than landscape cards, which in design is a good thing. After all, isn’t the idea to stand out from the crowd? But if this is the case why are there so few portrait cards?

Is it practicality? All rollerdex’s and business card folders are for landscape cards, is this why the majority of cards are landscape?

I’ve asked both colleagues out of curiosity and clients regarding their work in progress what their opinions on portrait cards are. The answer has always been somewhere between dislike and indifference. I’ve never had someone give portrait cards a solid thumbs up.

I’ve posted 20 or so portrait business cards here gathered from around the web, all of which are good designs, but why so few to choose from, what do you think?

What are your thoughts?

Portrait business cards. Love em or hate em?

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• Large format business cards (2)

Portrait business cards, what do you think?

Posted here are a few really unique, though possibly impractical business card designs. People often get caught up in such ideas setting out to create something innovative and unique and end up forgetting about the functionality of the card.

The picture above for example, is for an asthma and allergy centre. It’s a clever demonstration of the importance of health lungs and great for someone to be able to blow up a balloon having conquered there asthma, but what happens when you’re having a chronic asthma attack. Do you blow up the balloon to get the number to call for help ? I doubt it.

This is more to my liking. Just as memorable, probably fits in a rollerdex with a little effort, gives you something to poke at while your on hold too.

This clothes peg with details printed on is a novel idea to be sure, but who will carry or file away a clothes peg?

Business cords for the Department of Energy. I guess 1 more length of wire in a sparky’s toolbox isn’t too much of a hassle.

Edible business cards to hide the evidence from your existing boss. I don’t fancy being the guy that eats the 1000th card that gets handed out a year after its printed…

Now that I think about it I don’t fancy anything that has been run through a printed and delivered to me via someone’s pocket.

I imagine this has been thought of countless times and put into practice less I would imagine. Not quite sure if that’s a paper stock of some sort or metal, I’ve seen a few cards in the past for metal manufacturers or works which had corners quite capable of cutting you.

And finally a rubber business card for personal trainer Poul Nielsen. This is a great idea for a personal trainer, but I guess you have someone else dial the phone number while you stretch the card out ?

What are your thoughts ?

Seen any other unique stocks? Got an opinion on these? let me know.

• Portrait business cards, what do you think? (15)
• A pocket full of business cards (4)
• Personal business card design (2)
• Spend a little extra on your business cards (2)

Business cards printed on unique media

Here is a small collection of interesting business cards I’ve fished off the net featuring dies cuts and embossing.

There’s a couple that might be a bit flimsy for my liking, but definitely some memorable cards. I thought bite impression above was a great touch for a dentists business card.

Die cut and threaded dog tags for the National Greyhound Adoption Program.

Retro microphone cutout for radio presenter Chris Fisher.

Lock-pick set for Mitnick Security Consulting.

One thought on this card, Mitnick Security provides digital and internet based security products and services. Without having looked at the company website i assumed there work related to physical security, locks etc. as implied by the mechanical lock-pick set.

A clever idea but not the perfect message in my opinion.

A perforated business card for divorce lawyer James Mahon, one half for each of you. Not terribly sympathetic, ha.

The same idea including stationery.

And finally putting yourselves back together.

What are your thoughts ?

Seen any other clever cards? Got an opinion on these? let me know.

• Portrait business cards, what do you think? (15)
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• Thinking outside the box – Business card shapes and sizes (0)
• A pocket full of business cards (4)

Clever die cut & embossed business card designs

After agonizing over my new business card design I was pleased to finally receive them. It’s always difficult to design for yourself, but I’m glad to say that after receiving the cards I’m happy with the result.

The card front is printed in 2 colours with a matte varnish, while the back features the greyscale version of my logo design. The card is printed on 350gsm stock and is trimmed down to 90mm x 45mm to give it a little distinction.

What do you think?

As always opinions are welcome, I’d love to know what you think.

• Portrait business cards, what do you think? (15)
• Thinking outside the box – Business card shapes and sizes (0)
• A pocket full of business cards (4)
• Business cards printed on unique media (0)

Personal business card design