Sadly, the standard card still rules
In the world of business, there are about three designs that have been used for the last several decades. Sure, the colors have changed, but the standard card still rules. What a shame.
Today, we challenge you to take a look at your business card and see how it measures up to some of the more creative cards you could be using. Look at the modern colors, how little information is used on these cards (hint: you don’t need your fax, cell, office, assistant, and broker phone numbers if you have a website- with all of your contact info- listed on your card).
Many of these cards are no more than two colors, are the standard rectangle, yet they are well outside of the box of the normal business cards and most of theses cost the same or less than what you’re currently paying, given the advent of ordering online. If you’re not creative, hire a designer, they’re not super expensive for business cards. If you are creative, you’ll get your inspirational juices flowing with these pictures below.
Tell us in comments which of these is your favorite or how you plan on altering your business card.
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Property Marbella
July 19, 2010 at 3:50 am
I like a plain and simple card in a quality paper. My favorite is Pixelfancy.
BawldGuy
July 19, 2010 at 10:56 am
Top 80% of card has company logo, name, then my name. Bottom 20% has office address, phone number (office/cell) and email. Back of card has blog URL in largish font. Background of card is ‘washed out’, way oversized logo. There are 4-5 colors used, but it’s a pretty ‘quiet’ card. People seem to like it.
Genevieve
July 19, 2010 at 1:18 pm
Hi Bawldguy! Our cards are quite similar is design. Only our lay-out is portrait instead of landscaped. We use this fun, nearly avocado-green card stock made of 75% elephant dung…. Yep. It is a conversation starter. The font is in a graphite gray which makes it have an even more rustic appearance. We get a lot of feedback from the cards.
Julia Fishel
July 23, 2010 at 10:30 am
Great post! Any way to find out who the vendor was for card #30? I’ve got to have something similar!
Lani Rosales
July 23, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Julia, https://creattica.com/creatives/signa/24970 …looks like a company abroad designed those. You could show a specialty printer the picture of what you want though, it’s not a super tricky job (albeit possibly pricey).
Let us know how your quest goes and if you don’t have luck, several of the custom cards above are by tasteofinkstudios.com who seems to handle a lot of high end cards!
Rich Jacobson
July 23, 2010 at 11:36 am
Ugh! Don’t get me started! Sore subject for me. Our agency is so overly concerned with protecting their corporate branding that they prohibit any personal, customized business cards, and only allows one basic design – no more than one website URL, no room for Twitter or Facebook profiles, etc.. Thinking I should just be a rebel and get some custom cards made up.
Lani – do you have any source contacts for these examples?
Anthony Rueda
July 27, 2010 at 5:09 pm
Wow! Many of the cards displayed are very interesting and have great potential. My preferences are super clean graphics, vibrant colors, simple in design, but most importantly, a card that stands out. I like the way most cards use both sides. I guess my favorite would probably be #3, “AJM”.
Charlie Pitkin
July 29, 2010 at 3:49 pm
I like cards that have a unique texture to them. Like #3 for example.
Nick Nymark
July 30, 2010 at 8:42 pm
I like 32 & 33. Some of the examples here give great idea’s on how you could design a new card for yourself. These great examples and your imagination could go a long way.
Cardview
July 31, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Great collection! Thanks!
coolBC
August 10, 2010 at 1:56 pm
love your work.
Joun Ward
August 25, 2010 at 8:49 am
These are all great and I’ve never seen most of them on any site. The Lux business card is simply elegant.
Kate Newman
October 23, 2010 at 1:13 am
wow! where do you get these printed? it must cost an arm and a leg! but how cool
JB
November 5, 2010 at 6:10 am
I love business card no.32! Looks really elegant.
Dan Sullivan
March 5, 2011 at 7:07 pm
Just tweaked my design for probably the fifth time in five years. It’s an ongoing project, and there are some great ideas here. I have had good luck with overnightprints.com.
Missy Caulk
March 12, 2011 at 8:51 am
Laughing at #25 in light of Zebragate.
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