Business Cards; Do's & Don'ts

[RisQ]

I have done a search and haven't found anything along these lines, so I appologize in advance if there is a thread hiding somewhere that I missed.


In this thread, I would like to start a list of the Business Cards; Do's and Don'ts.

Things like:

One or Two sided: Is it a NoNo, Go for it, or it doesn't matter.
Creative Images: Yes, or No (such as remote's posted in this post)
Fancy fonts vs. Standard Fonts.
Do's of most effective business cards, and possibly why?
Don'ts. Why certain business cards designs didn't or don't work.
So on, and so forth.

Please feel free to add your own do's, and don'ts, and any further recomendation or advice that you have to offer, and share.


After reading the thread in regards to this business card, (which I think looks great!) There were many good points brought up about it. Things like the information on the back is too hard to read, its not conveying the message, because its too hard to read, etc.
http://www.universoulproductions.com/images/front.jpg http://www.universoulproductions.com/images/back.jpg

So, should you go through with a design like this, (which with out a doubt will stand out), or should you go with a more subtle, standard 'corporate' type card, or something else?


ThanX to remote for the great image! :)


I'm asking because I'm looking into doing one, and am torn between which way to go with it.

ThanX to All!
:)

[Element]

:huh: I dont quite understand what you said.
Are you asking or explaing what the do's and don'ts?

[RisQ]

Both. Would like to start a discusion on what works, and why, and what doesn't work and why; Do's and Don'ts. :)

[Koobi]

IMO images should be as li9mited as possible when it comes to cards coz i feel that images just distract the reader from the main reason of a business card

you have so little space to deliver a "message" in a card, why cram it with images that also might turn out right if you dont get the printer settings right

[Element]

Originally posted by Bane
why cram it with images that also might turn out right if you dont get the printer settings right
dont you mean might turn out wrong? :huh:

Yes, bane is right, if the business card is too packed with images it wont look too good. It would take away from the point your trying to make. Which I guess would be "I'm a professional designer" not "look at all the purdy pictures :loony:". IMO it should be simple and to the point but it also shouldn’t be too boring. Also Use good colors, try to keep them so it doesn’t look like the ink in the printer exploded.

[RisQ]

so should there be any graphics on it at all, or should it just be left a standard card?

There is one here I like a lot. Its for a local surf shop. It has a graet picture of a wave on it, and the companies logo. Then off to the left side is blank dark blue spot on it where there is all of the information on it. Its a great card, looks good, and has the details. So should someone use this or not?

[Cone Graff]

Remember that a business card serves only one purpose, to supply another person with the neccessary contact information.

Therefore all contact information on a business card must be readable.
Remember: Less is more :)

[Koobi]

Originally posted by E|ement
dont you mean might turn out wrong? :huh:

Zzzzzzackly!! :grin:


Originally posted by RisQ

There is one here I like a lot. Its for a local surf shop. It has a graet picture of a wave on it, and the companies logo. Then off to the left side is blank dark blue spot on it where there is all of the information on it. Its a great card, looks good, and has the details. So should someone use this or not?


sometiems a tiny vector image taking a VERY small part of a card looks good imo...should'nt be too dark though, vibrant colours look good on small cards. Also a CMYK red always looks god on white paper IMO

[pie_man]

I dont use bussniss cards

instead i paint an image onto a stone - then i write my details on the back ----- I think it makes me allot more remembermemorable

[kipton]

Reading this thread strangely reminds me of American Psycho. ;)

[Boozer]

and I also would like to know the cost if you print say 2000 of what you made above :D

[Koobi]

heh good point Boozer
with all those colours RisQ has goin on in that card, its gon cost him a mil! :S

/me plans to clean out RisQ's bank account

[RisQ]

thats remotes business card, not mine. :) Just using it for an example.

[Koobi]

let's hope he's rich then :loony: :P

i just came accross this card today and i really dont like it coz its one of those foldable ones. I dunno bout others but i really hate cards that fold...i think they should be just once piece of card preferably some sort of stock card with a nice subtle texture to it....nice being a relative term.....heh

any thoughts on that anyone?

[dalin]

^^ i hate those too.

as for do's and dont's, as with any other design keep in mind the purpose. then consider the image of yourself you'd like put across, but do it in a way that doesn't obscure that purpose.

a while back i remember there being a thread about business card printing and someone posted a site that printed like 500 cards for an amazing rate (which I dont remember). does anyone remember what i'm referring to?

[pie_man]

cheaper is not alway better though

Id ask dubtastic ... he has allot of bussness card printing experience

[Koobi]

Originally posted by pie_man
cheaper is not alway better though

Id ask dubtastic ... he has allot of bussness card printing experience

yeah true, cheaper isnt always good.....im not sure how it works but hypothetically if you do buy one from a cheap place, chances are if you have any probs, its more likely they wont provide technical assistance

and pie_man, were you serious about the rocks in one of your earlier posts?

/me is guillible
heh

[pie_man]

yeah ..... i havnt done many recently ... im going down to hombase tommorow to get me a bag of beach stones

[Some Funky Dude]

I dont' think there's any limits on what you can do with a business card. Just because there's a lot of graphics, doesn't mean it won't convey the message. Plus, for a graphic artist, I think business cards give you a chance to show your work on a smaller scale.