Business Card design, how to do it right!

We’ve all been there, with an opportunity to impress only to fail by handing out a scrappy piece of paper with your name and number on. Is anyone likely to find that piece of paper again once they’ve put it down? Are they likely to pass it along to another potential client? Or are they more likely to throw it in the trash?

A business card is an important piece of promotional material. Something that is unlikely to be thrown away if it does it’s job properly. It must be memorable, easy to read and contain all the information needed in a short amount of space.

Making an impact…

A business card usually comprises of two separate sections, and these two sections give you ample opportunity to get your point across quickly and concisely.

Section 1 – The imagination

The first section (namely the front of the card) is your canvas to create whatever you like. Try a doodle on your Wacom, write a funny line or even pop your tag line on there (mine for example is Artfully Illuminating Design, something I’ve stuck with from day one). It allows you to show a bit of personality, a bit of creativity and create something more eye catching than a scrap of paper.

The above design is quite eye catching using a bright blue (my trademark colour). Someone is unlikely to throw it away and is likely to remember the card. The little tag-line of “all your design are belong to us” probably won’t be understood by most clients as it’s a rip off of a humorous online phrase. It can however add that little extra in allowing the potential client to remember you.

Try drawings, jokes, fancy patterns, cartoons, phrases, photographs or even Haiku. It can really make a boring piece of card interesting.

Section 2 – The details

So you’ve got your potential clients attention, how do we hammer home the contact details?

It’s all about organisation and importance. You need to gently organise your details according to what you want on there. Obvious details are telephone number, email address and website (if you have one). Additional details you could apply are (depending on your industry);

1. Address
2. Work & Mobile telephone numbers
3. Social networking links (such as Twitter)
4. Alternative contact details such as Skype
5. Fax number (not so common lately)
6. Your job title
7. Your skills/attributes

Don’t overload the card with details, only list the important stuff and make sure the important stuff is the largest test on the card. Also ensure it’s readable when printed before you go an order 500 business cards. You have to bear in mind that just because it’s large on your 27″ monitor, it’s not when it’s printed only 3 inches wide.

Free Photoshop Template (UK sizes)

I’ve drummed up a few free templates for you to use. Simply pop in your details, print them and see how the look!

Please note these are set at 85mm x 55mm which may need changing before printing depending on which country your in.

Please also make sure your guide lines are on by using the shortcut Ctrl+H/Apple+H or clicking View>Extras. The outer border is your cropping area and the innder border is your bleed area. The inner rectangle is your safe zone. Try to keep everything in there. Happy designing!

Section 1 – The Imagination | Section 2 – The Details