Hi there and welcome! I'm glad you've posted; wish I could say I liked what you've done here.

Here's some ideas: I'm not enamored with this card design. The all caps font is hard to read, the red and black clash, and the overall design is very dated and not very interesting or good looking. Remove the photo of yourself -- not necessary. And the font treatment on 'Graphic Designer' seems out of place next to a keyboard.

In short: Simplify your design.

You might back up and do some research on good business card design. Find some good samples here:

http://creativebits.org/cool_business_card_designs

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Powerpoint is not a design application

I'm going to assume you're in Maine cause of the fax, and that the Oregon number is cause it's a cell. This might seriously either confuse people/potential client, or make them wonder how serious you are about being in one city vs. another. The problem with this is it leads to fears that you might just take the money and run.

Other then that, Natobasso gave some good points to start with..

keep us posted.
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Architectural Technician - Multimedia Designer
www.ArchMedia.us

The first thing I see that is going to cause you a problem, is the border around the card. You should typically try and stay away from this (especially since yours are very thin), because when you go to get the card printed, and it gets cut, you have to allow for the standard cutting error, which is very noticeable if your card has borders..they won't match at all, and it looks very unprofessional and tacky. You definitely want to lose the picture/choose a new font...Honestly the card looks very ameturish...(if that's a word). Because you seem to be new at design, you could probably benefit by purchasing a book of business card designs, and study and learn from them. Your card gives nobody any reason to keep it now.
Well that's my $.02

Get lots of books, and get out of the business until you understand design.
*sorry* but that's the cold truth. You have no business selling creative yet.

Not too shabby. Now, what you might want to consider, see the text? It's all the same! Why don't you spice it up a little. After all, you're a graphic designer, show your typography skills. I would suggest to make the email address in a different font. Something fun.
Then there's the border. It's rounded. Thats good! But try to fill it with a gradient. To represent your colour skills. I assume you do more web-stuff (solely based on the reflection) so I would go with red, green and blue. If you do more print choose CMYK.
Also, there's a lot of space underneath the picture. You could add some important business information like your bank account number etc. - try a pixelfont to fit it all in.
I actually like the picture, it shows that you're human.

You could add some important business information like your bank account number etc. - try a pixelfont to fit it all in.

Um, no. :)
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Powerpoint is not a design application

There is nothing i hate more, then seeing free emails on business cards. Considering i've seen the cost of domains with emails included at like $2, this should be a business expense that no designer can be without.

Most people have relayed the same feelings i have on this card besides the "Mob." It's very awkward and confusing.

life is great; without it, you'd be dead.

Come on guys you don't really think this is legit, do you?

Look at it! Every element is carefully chosen. You don't fool me!

P.S.: If you indeed fooled me Jozsef I'm very sorry.

:D

Hey guys, you are wonderful! Wow!
I really didn't expect so many great and honest comments.
Will accept them, but maybe not all.

I'll change the typeface and create some logo instead of that "Graphic Designer" with a keyboard in the background. And also, will get a rid from red border, or maybe I'll just fill it with a gradient, as the worthlord suggest. Will try to make it simplier a bit. But I think I'll keep the photo.
OK. About cell and fax numbers I must to explain you. Last 15 months I'm in Dubai, UAE. That's why the cell country code is 971 :) Maybe I'll just remove the fax number completely?
Yeah, thanks for your advice about email address, melange. Probably, will accept that also :)

Why I chose black and red? The card stands out with that colors. That's the only reason.

Putting a photo on your business card makes you look like a real estate agent or insurance salesman. And it looks tacky enough when they do it. You should not. It's really, really, REALLY bad idea.

Do NOT take Worthlord's suggestion about the gradient. I think he was joking. Or maybe you are! Are you?

Mob? There's a Mob? Will Frank Sinatra be singing? What does "MOB" mean? I've never seen that before.

Mara

While I agree this design could be much better I want to emphasize on the fact that people who comment on it should sometime show their own skills. I feel that what gives you the right to talk about design is to actually do design. I would be interested in seeing post from these people, they certainly sound like they know what they talk about. Prove it.

mara06? worthlord? any work of yours we can all see?

Please don't think I am rude, I am just curious.

This really bothers me. It makes me think this site isn't worth shit.

My Web site is under reconstruction at present, due to complete loss of the original during a transfer from one Web host to another. While I can't offer you a URL to my portfolio, I can upload a few of my things for your critique. Mind you, they've already been printed, so no changes can be made, but I value the perspective of other people.

Give me a little time to upload stuff (on the Critique) page.

Mara

The comments are perfectly fine and for the most part useful. It is because of that that I am anxious to see the work. My view of professional is not looking professional but being professional. I think it is unfair, regardless of the value of the comments, that people take the risk of exhibiting their work and others just don't. It seems to easy. And really, no posts in a whole year? That's sounds strange to me. In a design class environment (for example) everybody shows their work for others to critique.

I still have my doubts about the impact of this site. I feel that 90% of the work here is amateur, and a good 50% is absolutely unacceptable by standards of basic design principles.

Please don't take this the wrong way. I want to be an active member here.

Thoughts?

This single card incorporates almost every advertising 'art' cliché of the last 15 years. So, I still find it hard to believe it's for real.

That said, Jozsef is a great name. I could think of something.
Let's make a 'Jozsef' business card contest. 2 entries/person max.

Who's in?

Monkenke... Amen brother.

As far as 'shit' goes... I've dropped harsher language than that in client meetings, let alone sessions with other creatives.

Sorry if I said shit. Maybe crap would be more appropriate. In any case, let's stick to the point here.

I've just uploaded four things for you to take your hostility out on. Go for it! Me? I'm goin' to lunch!

:-)

Mara

i'm happy to share my thoughts with people who are looking for constructive criticism. you're welcome to accept them or not. if people really feel that the only way to validate constructive criticism is for the critic to post their own work as well, then you'll get a lot less constructive criticism.

if you're interested in seeing someone in particular's work, feel free to ask them. but personally i don't feel the need to "validate" my criticism by posting my work just to prove i have a clue. i hope my comments stand on their own as legitimate critiques. as i said, you're welcome to accept or ignore my criticism as you will.

Sure, comments can be valid and useful. All I am saying is that it looks bad when you actively judge others but your own work hasn't been exposed at all. Is there a reason why some people participate in almost every critique that comes out but have NEVER shown their work? I would just feel really bad for myself if I judge somebody else's efforts for a long time behind a comfortable curtain.

In the design world, your work is what speaks for you.

I don't consider my comments as hostile. You are just not used to somebody speaking directly, without ornaments, straight to the point.

it's not that i'm not used to people speaking directly. it's that your comment came across as "calling people out," as if it's not really right to critique others without putting up your own work. i think it's generous to take the time to share your thoughts on what some people have posted looking for some critiques (as long as you're offering constructive criticism and not just here to be a jerk).

i don't think it "looks bad" to offer advice to someone who solicits it without soliciting their advice in return. if you were to ask an art director for an information interview to critique your portfolio, would it be bad form on their part to not ask you to critique their work as well? this isn't quite the same as being in a design class, where everyone is working on the same projects and you're learning about different ways to approach a solution.

and even if someone posts nice work, that doesn't necessarily validate their critique on something else. nor does less than spectacular work invalidate someone else's comment.

now, there are definitely some bad critiques out there. but you can judge that on the critique itself without seeing their work. i think the words "actively judge others" is the wrong way to phrase it and the wrong approach to take. constructive criticism is how people learn. being "judgmental" is how you turn people off, both from your comments and from design in general. i hope i don't come across that way.

Post 'work' here? No way. Why?
I would however participate in a contest,
this way I wouldn't embarrass my clients.

Also, it's fun!

See where I'm floating here? A contest category would
allow pros to contribute in a dignified manner.
Of course we could use the critique category.
It's even more fun if there are participants,
so we probably would need a really long timeframe.
Like, best entry of the month, with a loose topic.

I like to think that would enhance the critique-thumbnail-overview a lot.

Think about it. Until then we need to spend our resources on the current topic.
Please don't forget about Jozsef, he needs us more than ever, the cards are due, so no time to read a book. Joszef, I don't have the time to talk you through it but I can make you an illustrator file with some suggestions. Would you consider that inappropriate? But wait a sec, is it proven yet Jozsef's card isn't a parody?

By definition (on the help page), this site is described as "a professional blog and community site for graphic designers working on Mac OS X. It's objective is to provide graphic designers a professional forum where they can share tips and tricks, follow up on the industry's events and ask for help and critique from fellow members."

I assume that other active members of the site are graphic designers, as described by its creator. The least I would expect, is to see my fellow designers' work, something, anything. Just a nice balance of giving and taking so everybody benefits from this resource at somewhat the same level of involvement.

So this is for designers, not for rugby players or tiger trainers, unless they do design too, and if they do, I'd just like to see it.

The other issue after that, is sorting out the graphic designers from the Photoshop owners who learned how to use it a little bit one cold afternoon.

I think this is a forum topic. Jozsef, sorry for initiating a discussion far off the topic of your card.

But I have no idea where to start. I can only hope you are having a bit of fun at our expense.

the definition you posted from the help page and your expectations, at the least, aren't necessarily the same. there are a whole lot of things listed in the definition, posting work is only a small part of it. and while there is a critique section, there's not a "portfolio" section where people post work just so you can see what they do.

maybe it's not a bad idea to have something like that, necessarily. but your last comment seems to be the thrust of what you're saying, at least to me. it seems as if your goal is "sorting out the graphic designers from the Photoshop owners who learned how to use it a little bit one cold afternoon." are you looking for people to prove themselves by posting their work before giving advice on the critique section?

and agreed, sorry for hijacking your critique.