Not bad, but a few things to consider:

1. Too many planes. I thought they were fish at first! :)

2. Belly dancer should take up more of the card, say 2/3 under the title. Make title stand out better (more contrast).

3. Too many different fonts and it looks like you squished some to make them fit. Don't mess with fonts until you know what you are doing. Many years were spent making fonts kern correctly; don't mess with it.

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Powerpoint is not a design application
My latest web design work

makes it difficult to read and doesn't add anything to the design or seem to fit any concept.

not quite sure why you chose the odd typeface on the belly dancer card. and you have the opposite problem there, where the tracking is so tight that it's difficult to read.

Agree. Work on typeface issues. Your graphics are stunning--flying fish and all--but the text is hurting.

REALLY like your belly dancer one--the bubbles were a great addition; no changes on the front. However, I'm not crazy about the identical image and text reading backwards in the screened background on the back/info side of the card. Were you going for a "looking through a drinking glass" feel? Maybe think of dropping the full image of the woman and her backwards name, and replacing with a close-up of her navel. And definitely consider adding some more of those awesome bubbles here!

ttfn!
3dogmama

1. I'm not a big fan of the out-of-focus typeface here.

2. Your belly dancer looks like her arms are cut off. Also, the pose looks awkward (body in a straight-board position). It would look sexier - which is what belly dancing is all about - if her head and back were arched, if you want to keep this position. Otherwise, I think it's a great idea to do a close up of her navel, as 3dogmama suggested.

The font is too distracting on this business card as well. I know you're trying to be creative, but remember, simplicity can be very effective.

Katie McDonald

High Quality Business Card Designs

thank you guys! typography is definitely my downfall. anyone know of some good tutorials or resources to help me iron out some of the kinks? as for the navel...very cool idea! i think i actually do have a close up of her mid-section somewhere.

http://ilovetypography.com/
http://typographica.org/
http://www.fontshop.com/fontfeed/

These should get you started.

I like the navel closeup concept, but leave the bubbles out. They are not doing anything for your illustration.

For me the bubbles are overpowering. I'm not quite sure the significance they bring to the image. Try developing a more mysterious and seductive angle. Play with lighting and shadows to enhance the illusion of this ancient dance form.

The bubbles are a weird retro cross between Carmen Miranda and Esther Williams (look 'em up). Doesn't say belly dancing to me at all. The position of the dancer's head looks strained, not at all conveying the controlled abandonment that belly dancing is.

You might want to post this request for critiques in the Critique section of this site. I'm sure there are some designers here who would comment constructively, but won't see your Forum post.

Mara

here's another version that doesn't utilize the bubbles. i don't have many different poses, but there are a couple more that i'll post when i get the time.
and for some reason the picture comes out all funky here in the post. anyone know why it's so pixelated?

I think you should submit this as a separate critique for both cards, as you will get more defined responses that way. I will wait for that to comment...